High nitrogen efficiency cultivar combined with nitrogen fertilizer reduction achieves stable wheat yield and minimizes nitrogen loss

The interactive effects of reduced N fertilization and wheat cultivars on spatiotemporal soil N distribution and transformation and plant N utilization and yield was studied with soil columns under field condition. Treatments included two wheat cultivars (N-efficient cultivar ZM27 vs. N-inefficient cultivar AK58) at normal (N15, 225 kg·hm-2) or reduced (N8, 120 kg·hm-2) N fertilizer rates.

Soil N forms, N functional enzymes, root morphology at different soil depths and growth stages, and wheat N uptake and yield were determined. Data showed that the combination of N-efficient wheat cultivar with reduced N fertilization is a feasible strategy to improve N use efficiency, minimize N losses, and stabilize wheat yield.