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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (10): 71-81.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2022489

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Effects of slow-release N fertilizer on growth and water- and N- use efficiencies of forage sweet sorghum under three different irrigation regimes

Ren-shi MA1,2(), Cong-ze JIANG1,2, Wei GAO1,2, Zhong-li LI1,2, Yu-ying SHEN1,2, Xian-long YANG1,2()   

  1. 1.College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology,State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems,Lanzhou University,Lanzhou 730020,China
    2.National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Grassland Agro-ecosystems in Gansu Qingyang,Qingyang 745004,China
  • Received:2022-12-14 Revised:2023-02-27 Online:2023-10-20 Published:2023-07-26
  • Contact: Xian-long YANG

Abstract:

To investigate the water-saving and high-yield cultivation conditions for forage sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), an auto-weighed lysimeter experiment under greenhouse conditions was conducted to determine the effects of different water and nitrogen (N) supply conditions on growth, yield, and water- and N- use efficiencies of forage sweet sorghum. Three irrigation and three N fertilization regimes were tested in this study: maintaining soil moisture content at 30%-50% (I1), 50%-70% (I2), and 70%-90% (I3) of field capacity, and using conventional urea at 200 kg·ha-1 elemental N (U200), coated urea at 160 kg·ha-1 elemental N (CU160), and coated urea at 120 kg·ha-1 elemental N (CU120). It was found that increasing the irrigation amount significantly promoted plant height and stem diameter, and increased the total leaf area per plant. Compared with I1, I2 and I3 increased the plant height by 9.5% and 15.4%, and increased the stem diameter by 2.4% and 27.6%, and increased the total leaf area per plant by 32.0% and 76.0%, respectively. With increase in the irrigation level, the fresh and dry weight of stems, leaves, and of the whole plant were increased significantly, as well as the stem-leaf ratio. Compared with I1, I2 and I3 increased the whole plant fresh weight by 61.7% and 187.4%, and the dry weight by 55.7% and 129.8%, respectively. The N fertilization regimes also significantly affected the fresh and dry weight of stems, leaves and the whole plant. Compared with U200, CU160 increased the whole plant fresh weight by 13.9%, and increased the dry weight by 22.8%, respectively. The cumulative water consumption per plant and water- and N- use efficiencies increased significantly with increase in irrigation level. Compared with I1, I2 and I3 increased water consumption by 52.1% and 108.4%, and increased the dry matter water use efficiency by 2.6% and 11.3%, and increased partial-factor productivity by 51.9% and 128.3%, respectively. The N fertilization methods significantly affected water- and N- use efficiencies. Compared with U200, CU160 increased the dry matter water use efficiency by 22.4%, while CU160 and CU120 increased the partial-factor productivity by 53.5% and 80.0%, respectively. Therefore, moderate irrigation and use of slow-release fertilizer with at a lower N application rate significantly promoted the efficient production of forage sweet sorghum plants, and enhanced water- and N- use efficiencies, compared with the I3-U200 treatment combination.

Key words: forage sweet sorghum, irrigation amount, slow-release N fertilizer, growth characteristics, water consumption, water- and N- use efficiencies