Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Conference abstract2015Open access

Nitrogen use efficiency and energy harvest in wheat, maize and grassland ley used for biofuel - implications for sustainability

Pourazari, Fereshteh; Vico, Giulia; Bath, Birgitta; Weih, Martin

Abstract

One of the most important resources within agriculture is nitrogen (N), and depletion of N resources is an important element in the evaluation of sustainability in agriculture. Therefore, identifying crops with high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is important for the sustainability of the system. In an energy crop context, sustainability in crop production could aim at enhanced energy output with maintained or reduced depletion of N resources. Crops with different photosynthetic pathways (C-3 vs. C-4) and life histories (perennials vs. annuals) are expected to differ in NUE and also energy harvest per unit N lost from the system.The aim is to characterize the growth, NUE and energy output per unit N lost for three common crops frequently used for energy; maize, winter wheat and perennial grassland (ley). These crops differ in photosynthetic and life history strategies.Above ground biomass of wheat, grassland ley and maize was sampled within a long-term experiment in Central Sweden. The experiment has a split-plot design with four replicates. Four aboveground harvests were conducted during the growth period and plant N contents were determined. Biomass growth, yield (above ground biomass in ley and maize, grain biomass in wheat) and some functional traits were assessed, and the NUE components N uptake efficiency, yield-specific N efficiency and yield N concentration were calculated according to Weih, et al. (2011). Energy output per N lost with the harvested product was calculated assuming crop-specific higher heating values for biofuel use.The N uptake efficiency and yield-specific N efficiency were higher in maize than wheat and ley. The yield N concentration was higher in the perennial ley than the annual crops, and lowest in maize. Energy output per N lost in the harvested product was greater in maize compared to wheat and ley. The results are discussed in a agricultural sustainability perspective. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license

Keywords

nitrogen use efficiency; energy production; sustainability; wheat; maize; perennial grassland

Published in

Procedia Environmental Sciences
2015, Volume: 29, pages: 22-23

Conference

4th International Conference on Agriculture and Horticulture (AGRI), Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, FEB 15-17, 2015

      SLU Authors

          • Sustainable Development Goals

          SDG7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
          SDG2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
          SDG12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

          UKÄ Subject classification

          Agricultural Science

          Publication identifier

          DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2015.07.135

          Permanent link to this page (URI)

          https://res.slu.se/id/publ/84006