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Current IssueEditorial BoardOnline First ArticlesArchive

volume 28 issue 1 (march 2007) : 26-33

MANAGING PlANT RESIDUES TO ENHANCE NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY - AREVIEW

K
K. Srinivas
S
S. SridevP
1Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture P.o. Saidabad, Hyderabad - 500 059, India

  • Submitted|

  • First Online |

  • doi

Cite article:- Srinivas K., SridevP S. (2025). MANAGING PlANT RESIDUES TO ENHANCE NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY - AREVIEW. Agricultural Reviews. 28(1): 26-33. doi: .

ABSTRACT

In tropical agricultural systems with limited access to fertilizers, plant residues are often used to meet the N requirements of annual crops. Although plant residues may carry large quantities of N, under field conditions, the contribution of plant residue N to crop nutrition is of ten small and crop recoveries of residue N are less than 20 per cent. The reason for low recoveries is a lack of synchrony between N release and crop N demand. Nitrogen release from residues can be regulated by altering or manipulating the factors that influence the mineralization of N from the residues, such as residue quality, environmental factors and management factors. In a given situation (location, soil type), environmental factors like temperature and water cannot usually be altered. Altering the method or timing of application can improve synchrony to some extent but cannot regulate N release to achieve a desired pattern of release. The only practical option left is to alter the quality of residues. The concentrations of nitrogen, lignin and polyphenols are the major determinants of plant residue quality. Strategies for management of residue quality may include choosing plant species and plant parts having a desired quality, and the manipulation of residue quality by producing residues of desired quality or by mixing residues of different quality to obtain a desired pattern of N release. While there are several avenues for manipulating plant residue quality, mixing residues of different qualities is by far the simplest and most practicable strategy for regulating the rates of decomposition and N release. When a mixture of high and low quality residues is applied, the high quality residue can meet the peak demand from young crops while that of low quality can extend the supply through the growing season. By the same analogy, a combination of plant residues and chemical fertilizers is a pragmatic approach for supplying N to crops commensurate with their demand. N use efficiency can be maximized by strategic conjunctive use of plant residues and chemical fertilizers in appropriate proportion and at appropriate time during crop growth.

KEYWORDS

    REFERENCES

    1. Anthofer, J. et al. (1998). Agroforestry Systems 40 : 1-18.
    2. Asquith, 1. N. and Butler, L. G. (1986). Phytochemistry 25: 1591-1593.
    3. Bath, B. (2000). Ph. D. Thesis. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
    4. Berg, B. and McClaugherty, C. (1987). Biogeochemistry 4 : 219-224.
    5. Bernhard-Reversat, F. (1998). European J. Soil Bioi 34: 117-122.
    6. Chesson, A. (1997). In: Driven by Nature: Plant Litter Quality and Decomposition (Cadisch, G. and Giller, K. E. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp. 47-66
    7. Chintu, R. et al. (2005) Agroforestry Systems 63: 45-52
    8. Constantinides, M. and Fownes, J. H. (1993). Agroforestry Systems 24 : 223-232.
    9. Constantinides, M. and Fownes, J. H. (1993) Agroforestry Systems 24 : 223-232.
    10. Deshmukh, P. D. et aJ. (1995) Annals Plant Physiol 9: 59-63.
    11. Douglas, C. L. and Rickman, R. W. (1992) Soil Sci Soc. Am. J. 56 : 272-278.
    12. Frankenberger, W. T. Jr. and Abdelmagid, H. M. (1985). Plant and Soil 87 : 257-271.
    13. Ghosh, S. et aI. (2002). Bioi. Fertil. Soils 35: 473-478.
    14. Giller, K. E. and Cadisch, G. (1995). Plant and Soil 174 : 255-277.
    15. Gunnarsson, S. (2003). Ph. D. Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
    16. Handayanto, E. et al. (1995). Plant and Soi1176: 149-160.
    17. Handayanto, E. et al. (1997) In Driven by Nature: Plant Utter Quality and Decompositioll (Cadisch, G. and Giller, K. E. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp. 175-185.
    18. Hornick, S. B. and Parr, J. F. (1987) Am. J. All. Agric. 2: 64-68.
    19. Jackson, F. S. et aI. (1996). J. Sci. Food Agric. 71 : 103-110.
    20. Janzen, H. H. and McGinn, S. M. (1991). Soil Bioi. Biochem. 23: 291-297.
    21. Jensen, E. S. (1997). Ph. D. Thesis. Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
    22. Kirchmann, H. and Bergstrom, L. F. (2001). Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 32: 997-1028.
    23. Kumar, K. and Goh, K. M. (2000). Adv. Agron. 68: 197-319.
    24. Mafongoya, P. L. et aI. (1998). Agroforestry Systems 38 : 77-97.
    25. Melillo,J. M. eta/. (1982). Ecology 63 :621-626.
    26. Mittal, S. P. et a/. (1992). Agroforestry Systems 19: 207-216.
    27. Mulongoy, K. (1993). In: Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Sustainability ofTropical Agriculture (Mulongoy, K. and Merckx, R. eds.) John Wiley &Sons, Chichester, UK. pp. 223-231. Vol. 28, No.1, 2007 33
    28. Myers, R. J. K. et al. (1994). In: The Biological Management ofTropical Soil Fertility (Woomer, P. L. and Swift, M. J. eds.) John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. pp. 81-116.
    29. Nair, P. K. R. (1993) An Introduction to Agroforestry. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
    30. Narkhede, P. L. and Ghugare, R. U. (1987). J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 35: 417-420.
    31. Oglesby, K. A. and Fownes, J. H. (1992). Plant and Soil 143 : 127-132.
    32. Palm, C. A. (1995). Agroforestry Systems 30: 105-124.
    33. Palm, C. A. and Sanchez, P. A. (1990). Biotropica 22 : 330-338.
    34. Pang, X. P. and Letey, J. (2000). Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 64: 247-253.
    35. Pathak, H. and Sarkar, M. C. (1994). J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 42 : 261-267.
    36. Pati!, M. N. eta/. (1993). Annals PI. Physio!. 7: 63-67.
    37. Paustian, K. et a/. (1997). In: Driven by Nature: Plant Litter Quality and Decomposition (Cadisch, G. and Giller, K. E. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp 313-335.
    38. Quemada, M. and Cabrera, M. L. (1995). Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 59 : 471-477.
    39. Reddy, G. S. eta/. (1991). IndianJ. Agric. Sci. 61: 316-319.
    40. Robbins, M. P. et a/. (1998). Plant Physiol. 116: 1133-1144.
    41. Schroth, G. et aI. (1992). Plant and SoiJ147 : 1-11.
    42. Sharma, K. L. et a/. (2002). Indian J Dryland Agric. Res.and Dev. 17: 79-88.
    43. Singh, J. P. and Kumar, V. (1996) J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 44 : 219-223.
    44. Sridevi, S. (1998). Ph. D. Thesis. Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India.
    45. Srinivas, K. (2003). Ph. D. Thesis. Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India.
    46. Swift, M. J. et a/. (1979). Decomposition in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, UKpp. 372.
    47. Szott, L. T. and Kass, D. C. L. (1993). Agroforestry Systems 23 : 157-176.
    48. Thonnissen, C. et aI. (2000). Agron J 92: 253-260.
    49. Tian, G. et a/. (1992). Soil BioI Biochem 24: 1051-1060.
    50. Van der Meersch, M. K. et al. (1993). In Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Sustainability of Tropical Agriculture (Mulongoy, K. and Merckx, R. eds.) John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. pp. 143-154.
    51. Vanlauwe, B. et aI. (2002). In Integrated Plant Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (Vanlauwe, B. et a/. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp 173-184.
    52. Vanlauwe, B. et a/. (1997). In Driven by Nature: Plant Litter Quality and Decomposition (Cadisch, G. and Giller, K. E. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp. 157-166.
    53. Vityakon, P. and Dangthaisong, N. (2005) Agroforestry Systems 63: 225-236.
    54. Wivstad, M. (1997). Swedish J. Agric. Res. 27: 3-14.
    55. Wivstad, M. (1999). Plant and Soil 208 : 21-31.
    56. Yadvinder-Singh et aI. (1991). Adv. Agron. 45: 136-190.
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      volume 28 issue 1 (march 2007) : 26-33

      MANAGING PlANT RESIDUES TO ENHANCE NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY - AREVIEW

      K
      K. Srinivas
      S
      S. SridevP
      1Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture P.o. Saidabad, Hyderabad - 500 059, India

      • Submitted|

      • First Online |

      • doi

      Cite article:- Srinivas K., SridevP S. (2025). MANAGING PlANT RESIDUES TO ENHANCE NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY - AREVIEW. Agricultural Reviews. 28(1): 26-33. doi: .

      ABSTRACT

      In tropical agricultural systems with limited access to fertilizers, plant residues are often used to meet the N requirements of annual crops. Although plant residues may carry large quantities of N, under field conditions, the contribution of plant residue N to crop nutrition is of ten small and crop recoveries of residue N are less than 20 per cent. The reason for low recoveries is a lack of synchrony between N release and crop N demand. Nitrogen release from residues can be regulated by altering or manipulating the factors that influence the mineralization of N from the residues, such as residue quality, environmental factors and management factors. In a given situation (location, soil type), environmental factors like temperature and water cannot usually be altered. Altering the method or timing of application can improve synchrony to some extent but cannot regulate N release to achieve a desired pattern of release. The only practical option left is to alter the quality of residues. The concentrations of nitrogen, lignin and polyphenols are the major determinants of plant residue quality. Strategies for management of residue quality may include choosing plant species and plant parts having a desired quality, and the manipulation of residue quality by producing residues of desired quality or by mixing residues of different quality to obtain a desired pattern of N release. While there are several avenues for manipulating plant residue quality, mixing residues of different qualities is by far the simplest and most practicable strategy for regulating the rates of decomposition and N release. When a mixture of high and low quality residues is applied, the high quality residue can meet the peak demand from young crops while that of low quality can extend the supply through the growing season. By the same analogy, a combination of plant residues and chemical fertilizers is a pragmatic approach for supplying N to crops commensurate with their demand. N use efficiency can be maximized by strategic conjunctive use of plant residues and chemical fertilizers in appropriate proportion and at appropriate time during crop growth.

      KEYWORDS

        REFERENCES

        1. Anthofer, J. et al. (1998). Agroforestry Systems 40 : 1-18.
        2. Asquith, 1. N. and Butler, L. G. (1986). Phytochemistry 25: 1591-1593.
        3. Bath, B. (2000). Ph. D. Thesis. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
        4. Berg, B. and McClaugherty, C. (1987). Biogeochemistry 4 : 219-224.
        5. Bernhard-Reversat, F. (1998). European J. Soil Bioi 34: 117-122.
        6. Chesson, A. (1997). In: Driven by Nature: Plant Litter Quality and Decomposition (Cadisch, G. and Giller, K. E. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp. 47-66
        7. Chintu, R. et al. (2005) Agroforestry Systems 63: 45-52
        8. Constantinides, M. and Fownes, J. H. (1993). Agroforestry Systems 24 : 223-232.
        9. Constantinides, M. and Fownes, J. H. (1993) Agroforestry Systems 24 : 223-232.
        10. Deshmukh, P. D. et aJ. (1995) Annals Plant Physiol 9: 59-63.
        11. Douglas, C. L. and Rickman, R. W. (1992) Soil Sci Soc. Am. J. 56 : 272-278.
        12. Frankenberger, W. T. Jr. and Abdelmagid, H. M. (1985). Plant and Soil 87 : 257-271.
        13. Ghosh, S. et aI. (2002). Bioi. Fertil. Soils 35: 473-478.
        14. Giller, K. E. and Cadisch, G. (1995). Plant and Soil 174 : 255-277.
        15. Gunnarsson, S. (2003). Ph. D. Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
        16. Handayanto, E. et al. (1995). Plant and Soi1176: 149-160.
        17. Handayanto, E. et al. (1997) In Driven by Nature: Plant Utter Quality and Decompositioll (Cadisch, G. and Giller, K. E. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp. 175-185.
        18. Hornick, S. B. and Parr, J. F. (1987) Am. J. All. Agric. 2: 64-68.
        19. Jackson, F. S. et aI. (1996). J. Sci. Food Agric. 71 : 103-110.
        20. Janzen, H. H. and McGinn, S. M. (1991). Soil Bioi. Biochem. 23: 291-297.
        21. Jensen, E. S. (1997). Ph. D. Thesis. Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
        22. Kirchmann, H. and Bergstrom, L. F. (2001). Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 32: 997-1028.
        23. Kumar, K. and Goh, K. M. (2000). Adv. Agron. 68: 197-319.
        24. Mafongoya, P. L. et aI. (1998). Agroforestry Systems 38 : 77-97.
        25. Melillo,J. M. eta/. (1982). Ecology 63 :621-626.
        26. Mittal, S. P. et a/. (1992). Agroforestry Systems 19: 207-216.
        27. Mulongoy, K. (1993). In: Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Sustainability ofTropical Agriculture (Mulongoy, K. and Merckx, R. eds.) John Wiley &Sons, Chichester, UK. pp. 223-231. Vol. 28, No.1, 2007 33
        28. Myers, R. J. K. et al. (1994). In: The Biological Management ofTropical Soil Fertility (Woomer, P. L. and Swift, M. J. eds.) John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. pp. 81-116.
        29. Nair, P. K. R. (1993) An Introduction to Agroforestry. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
        30. Narkhede, P. L. and Ghugare, R. U. (1987). J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 35: 417-420.
        31. Oglesby, K. A. and Fownes, J. H. (1992). Plant and Soil 143 : 127-132.
        32. Palm, C. A. (1995). Agroforestry Systems 30: 105-124.
        33. Palm, C. A. and Sanchez, P. A. (1990). Biotropica 22 : 330-338.
        34. Pang, X. P. and Letey, J. (2000). Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 64: 247-253.
        35. Pathak, H. and Sarkar, M. C. (1994). J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 42 : 261-267.
        36. Pati!, M. N. eta/. (1993). Annals PI. Physio!. 7: 63-67.
        37. Paustian, K. et a/. (1997). In: Driven by Nature: Plant Litter Quality and Decomposition (Cadisch, G. and Giller, K. E. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp 313-335.
        38. Quemada, M. and Cabrera, M. L. (1995). Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 59 : 471-477.
        39. Reddy, G. S. eta/. (1991). IndianJ. Agric. Sci. 61: 316-319.
        40. Robbins, M. P. et a/. (1998). Plant Physiol. 116: 1133-1144.
        41. Schroth, G. et aI. (1992). Plant and SoiJ147 : 1-11.
        42. Sharma, K. L. et a/. (2002). Indian J Dryland Agric. Res.and Dev. 17: 79-88.
        43. Singh, J. P. and Kumar, V. (1996) J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 44 : 219-223.
        44. Sridevi, S. (1998). Ph. D. Thesis. Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India.
        45. Srinivas, K. (2003). Ph. D. Thesis. Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India.
        46. Swift, M. J. et a/. (1979). Decomposition in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, UKpp. 372.
        47. Szott, L. T. and Kass, D. C. L. (1993). Agroforestry Systems 23 : 157-176.
        48. Thonnissen, C. et aI. (2000). Agron J 92: 253-260.
        49. Tian, G. et a/. (1992). Soil BioI Biochem 24: 1051-1060.
        50. Van der Meersch, M. K. et al. (1993). In Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Sustainability of Tropical Agriculture (Mulongoy, K. and Merckx, R. eds.) John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. pp. 143-154.
        51. Vanlauwe, B. et aI. (2002). In Integrated Plant Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (Vanlauwe, B. et a/. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp 173-184.
        52. Vanlauwe, B. et a/. (1997). In Driven by Nature: Plant Litter Quality and Decomposition (Cadisch, G. and Giller, K. E. eds.) CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp. 157-166.
        53. Vityakon, P. and Dangthaisong, N. (2005) Agroforestry Systems 63: 225-236.
        54. Wivstad, M. (1997). Swedish J. Agric. Res. 27: 3-14.
        55. Wivstad, M. (1999). Plant and Soil 208 : 21-31.
        56. Yadvinder-Singh et aI. (1991). Adv. Agron. 45: 136-190.
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