Response of Wheat and Sugar Beet to Different Mineral–Organic Fertilization in a Long-Term Experiment
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The effect of cyclic pig slurry (PS) application in long-term crop rotations with alfalfa is poorly recognized, particularly with regard to nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops requiring relatively high nitrogen (N) inputs. A long-term field experiment was established in Prague-Ruzyně, Czechia, in 1955. The experiment evaluated the effects of eight fertilization combinations, involving PS application and various N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) rates (N0P0K0; N1P1K1; N3P2K2; and N4P2K2). The effect of fertilization was evaluated in a 9-year crop rotation, in which PS was applied only three times under root crops. Long-term different mineral fertilization treatments and the application of PS significantly affected the yield of the tested crops: winter wheat and sugar beet. The highest wheat yield (8.34 t ha−1) was observed in the PS+N3P2K2 treatment, while the highest beet yield (86.1 t ha−1) was recorded in the PS+N4P2K2 treatment. The differences compared with the absolute control (N0P0K0) were 62.3% and 40.5%, respectively. However, statistically significant differences between treatments with different NPK rates were recorded only in plots without PS. With increasing NPK fertilizer rates, the uptake of macronutrients by plants also increased. The only exception was calcium in sugar beet in PS plots. The total N accumulation in plants was proportionally related to the total N input to the soil–plant system (Nin). For winter wheat, this trend was beneficial, as it resulted in higher protein yield, whereas in beet, the sugar yield did not increase significantly when Nin exceeded 250 kg N ha−1. The obtained results indicate that, in the soil conditions of this experiment, N rates should be primarily balanced with appropriate rates of phosphorus.
Source: Life
DOI: 10.3390/life15111779
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Funder: Ministerstvo Zemědělství
Awards: Assessment of the impacts of agricultural practices applied under climate and environmental schemes and cross-compliance on increasing the sequestration potential of soils in the Czech Republic, G1929878376, Impact of perennial forage crops on plant nutrition, soil, water and climate, Development and verification of model systems of long-term carbon sequestration in the Czech Republic, Soil organic matter - evaluating of quality parameters, Monitoring and evaluation of sustainable management of organic matter and nutrients
OpenAlex ID: W4416402492