Paper details

Title:

The Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Supplemental Irrigation on Seed and Biomass Productivity of Cynara Cardunculus Growing in a Semi-Arid Environment in Central Greece

Author(s):

Archontoulis, S.V., Danalatos, N.G., Struik, P.C., Batzogiannis, D., Savas, V.

Document(s):

Abstract:

The effects of nitrogen fertilization (range: 0–240 kg N/ha; end of April) and supplemental irrigation (3 applications; May–June) on growth, biomass and seed yield of Cynara cardunculus were investigated in a dry environment of central Greece (Velestino, 2008/2009) during the crop’s second growth cycle. The growth was thththnd rd monitored by destructive sampling on April 28, May 19, June 5, July 2and August 3(final harvest) and it was analyzed using sigmoid curves. Nitrogen input – yield relations were analyzed using a three­quadrant diagram. Nitrogen fertilization and supplemental irrigation significantly (P<0.001) increased total dry biomass yield (24% increase), head weight (43% increase) and seed yield (50% increase). Cynara cardunculus final productivities in the nd ­1 ­1 dry area of Velestino during the 2growth cycle ranged from 12.8 to 17.5 t ha(biomass) and from 1.4 to 2.8 t ha(seed) for dry and irrigated crops, respectively. Irrigation contributed most to this yield increase, because it prolonged ­1 ­1 the growing period by two weeks and increased crop growth rates (rainfed: 170, irrigated: 246 kg had). Nitrogen effect was more evident at advanced growth stages, when head (and seed) growth created a strong sink for nitrogen. Cynara’s nitrogen use efficiency was estimated at 125 kg dm kg­1 N. The studied soil provided to the crop 64 to 95 kg N ha­1 (basic uptake), while the efficiency of fertilizer application was 28% and 49% for rainfed and irrigated conditions, respectively. These estimates can serve as reference in nitrogen restoration approaches.

Keywords:

biomass production, seed yields, NUE, N uptake, Cynara cardunculus

Topic:

Biomass resources

Subtopic:

Research on energy crops (session 2)

Event:

18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

OE4.5

Pages:

273 - 279

ISBN-13:

978-88-89407-56-1

ISBN-10:

88-89407-56-5

Paper DOI:

10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-OE4.5

Price:

FREE