Agronomic Characteristics Related to Grain Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Wheat Production in China

<div><p>In order to make clear the recent status and trend of wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) production in China, datasets from multiple field experiments and published literature were collected to study the agronomic characteristics related to grain yield, fertilizer application and nutrient use efficiency from the year 2000 to 2011. The results showed that the mean grain yield of wheat in 2000–2011 was 5950 kg/ha, while the N, P₂O₅ and K₂O application rates were 172, 102 and 91 kg/ha on average, respectively. The decrease in N and P₂O₅ and increase in K₂O balanced the nutrient supply and was the main reason for yield increase. The partial factor productivity (PFP, kg grain yield produced per unit of N, P₂O₅ or K₂O applied) values of N (PFP-N), P (PFP-P) and K (PFP-K) were in the ranges of 29.5~39.6, 43.4~74.9 and 44.1~76.5 kg/kg, respectively. While PFP-N showed no significant changes from 2000 to 2010, both PFP-P and PFP-K showed an increased trend over this period. The mean agronomic efficiency (AE, kg grain yield increased per unit of N, P₂O₅ or K₂O applied) values of N (AEN), P (AEP) and K (AEK) were 9.4, 10.2 and 6.5 kg/kg, respectively. The AE values demonstrated marked inter-annual fluctuations, with the amplitude of fluctuation for AEN greater than those for AEP and AEK. The mean fertilizer recovery efficiency (RE, the fraction of nutrient uptake in aboveground plant dry matter to the nutrient of fertilizer application) values of N, P and K in the aboveground biomass were 33.1%, 24.3% and 28.4%, respectively. It was also revealed that different wheat ecological regions differ greatly in wheat productivity, fertilizer application and nutrient use efficiency. In summary, it was suggested that best nutrient management practices, i.e. fertilizer recommendation applied based on soil testing or yield response, with strategies to match the nutrient input with realistic yield and demand, or provided with the 4R’s nutrient management (right time, right rate, right site and right fertilizer) should be adopted widely to improve the yield production and nutrient use efficiency.</p></div

The fertilizer contribution rate (FCR), partial factor productivity (PFP), agronomic efficiency (AE) and recovery efficiency (RE) of N, P and K for wheat in different ecological regions.

<p>The fertilizer contribution rate (FCR), partial factor productivity (PFP), agronomic efficiency (AE) and recovery efficiency (RE) of N, P and K for wheat in different ecological regions.</p

Changes of grain yield and fertilizer application for wheat in all treatments within different years (A), and for wheat only in OPT (B) and FP plots (C), respectively, and comparison of grain yield between OPT, FP plots and the yearbook (D) in different years.

<p>Changes of grain yield and fertilizer application for wheat in all treatments within different years (A), and for wheat only in OPT (B) and FP plots (C), respectively, and comparison of grain yield between OPT, FP plots and the yearbook (D) in different years.</p

Agronomic efficiency (A) and recovery efficiency (B) of N, P and K for all treatments in different years, and Agronomic efficiency (C) and recovery efficiency (D) of N, P and K for OPT plots in different years.

<p>AEN, AEP and AEK mean the agronomic efficiency of N, P and K; REN, REP and REK mean the fertilizer recovery efficiency of N, P and K.</p

The distribution of partial factor productivity of N, P and K fertilizer (PFP-N, PFP-P and PFP-K).

<p>The distribution of partial factor productivity of N, P and K fertilizer (PFP-N, PFP-P and PFP-K).</p

Characteristics of agronomic efficiency and recovery efficiency of N, P and K for wheat.

<p>Characteristics of agronomic efficiency and recovery efficiency of N, P and K for wheat.</p

The distribution of different ranges of grain yield (A) and N, P₂O₅ and K₂O fertilizer application (B).

<p>The distribution of different ranges of grain yield (A) and N, P₂O₅ and K₂O fertilizer application (B).</p

The distribution of grain yield, yield response and fertilizer contribution rate for wheat.

<p>The distribution of grain yield, yield response and fertilizer contribution rate for wheat.</p

The agronomic efficiency of N, P and K (AEN, AEP and AEK) for wheat in different periods in China.

<p>The agronomic efficiency of N, P and K (AEN, AEP and AEK) for wheat in different periods in China.</p

Relationship in grain yield between NPK plots and N, P or K omission plots.

<p>Relationship in grain yield between NPK plots and N, P or K omission plots.</p