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Comparative Nitrogen Uptake and Distribution in Corn and Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

John L. Lindquist ,
Darren C. Barker ,
Stevan Z. Knezevic ,
Alexander R. Martin  and
Daniel T. Walters
John L. Lindquist*
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915
Darren C. Barker
Affiliation:
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., York, NE, 68467
Stevan Z. Knezevic
Affiliation:
Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, University of Nebraska, Concord, NE 68728
Alexander R. Martin
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915
Daniel T. Walters
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: jlindquist1@unl.edu
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Abstract

Weeds compete with crops for light, soil water, and nutrients. Nitrogen (N) is the primary limiting soil nutrient. Forecasting the effects of N on growth, development, and interplant competition requires accurate prediction of N uptake and distribution within plants. Field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 to determine the effects of variable N addition on monoculture corn and velvetleaf N uptake, the relationship between plant N concentration ([N]) and total biomass, the fraction of N partitioned to leaves, and predicted N uptake and leaf N content. Cumulative N uptake of both species was generally greater in 2000 than in 1999 and tended to increase with increasing N addition. Corn and velvetleaf [N] declined with increasing biomass in both years in a predictable manner. The fraction of N partitioned to corn and velvetleaf leaves varied with thermal time from emergence but was not influenced by year, N addition, or weed density. With the use of the [N]–biomass relationship to forecast N demand, cumulative corn N uptake was accurately predicted for three of four treatments in 1999 but was underpredicted in 2000. Velvetleaf N uptake was accurately predicted in all treatments in both years. Leaf N content (NL, g N m−2 leaf) was predicted by the fraction of N partitioned to leaves, predicted N uptake, and observed leaf area index for each species. Average deviations between predicted and observed corn NL were < 88 and 12% of the observed values in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Velvetleaf NL was less well predicted, with average deviations ranging from 39 to 248% of the observed values. Results of this research indicate that N uptake in corn and velvetleaf was driven primarily by biomass accumulation. Overall, the approaches outlined in this paper provide reasonable predictions of corn and velvetleaf N uptake and distribution in aboveground tissues.

Keywords

Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medic. ABUTHcorn, Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer 33A14’Growth analysisfunctional equilibriumleaf area indexnitrogen nutritionN use efficiency
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 55 , Issue 2 , April 2007 , pp. 102 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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