Nitrogen mineralization indicators under semi-arid and semi-humid conditions: influence on wheat yield and nitrogen uptake

The objectives were i) to assess indicators for potential nitrogen (N) mineralization and ii) to analyze their relationships for predicting winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth parameters (yield and N uptake, Nup) in Mollisols of the semi-arid and semi-humid region of the Argentine Pampas. Thirty-six farmer fields were sampled at 0?20 cm. Several N mineralization indicators, wheat grain yield and Nup at physiological maturity stage were assessed. A principal component (PC) analysis was performed using correlated factors to grain yield and Nup. The cluster analysis showed two main groups: high fertility and low fertility soils. In high fertility soils, combining PCs in multiple regression models enhanced the wheat yield and Nup prediction significantly with a high R2 (adj R2 = 0.71?0.83). The main factors that explained the wheat parameters were associated with water availability and N mineralization indicator, but they differ according to soil fertility. Abbreviations: N: nitrogen; SOM: soil organic matter; POM: particulate organic matter; SOC: soil organic carbon; SON: soil organic nitrogen; POM-C: particulate organic carbon; POM-N: particulate organic nitrogen; Nan: anaerobic nitrogen; Nhyd: hydrolyzable N; NO3-N: cold nitrate; N205: N determined by spectrometer at 205 nm; N260: N determined by spectrometer at 260 nm; Pe: extractable P; Nup: wheat N uptake; NO3-N: inorganic N in the form of nitrate; FR: fallow rainfalls (March-Seeding rainfall); FLR: flowering rainfalls (October-December rainfall); GFR: grain filling rainfall (November rainfall); CCR: crop growing season rainfall (June-December rainfall); PCA: principal component analysis; PC: principal component; MR: multiple regression.

Fil: Martinez, Juan Manuel. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentina

Fil: Galantini, Juan Alberto. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina

Fil: Duval, Matias Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina

Fil: Landriscini, María Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentina

Fil: García, Ramiro J.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina

Fil: López, Fernando. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina