title: Effects of a controlled-release fertilizer on yield, nutrient uptake, and fertilizer usage efficiency in early ripening rapeseed (Brassica napus L.).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) are critical nutrient elements necessary for crop plant growth and development. However, excessive inputs will lead to inefficient usage and cause excessive nutrient losses in the field environment, and also adversely affect the soil, water and air quality, human health, and biodiversity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) on seed yield, plant growth, nutrient uptake, and fertilizer usage efficiency for early ripening rapeseed (Xiangzayou 1613) in the red-yellow soil of southern China during 2011-2013. It was grown using a soluble fertilizer (SF) and the same amounts of CRF, such as SF1/CRF1 (3750 kg/hm2), SF2/CRF2 (3000 kg/hm2), SF3/CRF3 (2250 kg/hm2), SF4/CRF4 (1500 kg/hm2), SF5/CRF5 (750 kg/hm2), and also using no fertilizer (CK).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRF gave higher seed yields than SF in both seasons by 14.51%. CRF4 and SF3 in each group achieved maximum seed yield (2066.97 and 1844.50 kg/hm2, respectively), followed by CRF3 (1929.97 kg/hm2) and SF4 (1839.40 kg/hm2). There were no significant differences in seed yield among CK, SF1, and CRF1 (P>0.05). CRF4 had the highest profit (7126.4 CNY/hm2) and showed an increase of 12.37% in seed yield, and it decreased by 11.01% in unit fertilizer rate compared with SF4. The branch number, pod number, and dry matter weight compared with SF increased significantly under the fertilization of CRF (P<0.05). The pod number per plant was the major contributor to seed yield. On the other hand, the N, P, and K uptakes increased at first and then decreased with increasing the fertilizer rate at maturity, and the N, P, and K usage efficiency decreased with increasing the fertilizer rate. The N, P, and K uptakes and usage efficiencies of the CRF were significantly higher than those of SF (P<0.05). The N accumulation and N usage efficiency of CRF increased by an average of 13.66% and 9.74 percentage points, respectively, compared to SF. In conclusion, CRF significantly promoted the growth of rapeseed with using total N as the base fertilizer, by providing sufficient N in the later growth stages, and last by reducing the residual N in the soil and increasing the N accumulation and N usage efficiency.
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition in Common University / National Engineering Grain and Oil Crops in China, Changsha 410128, China.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition in Common University / National Engineering Grain and Oil Crops in China, Changsha 410128, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition in Common University / National Engineering Grain and Oil Crops in China, Changsha 410128, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition in Common University / National Engineering Grain and Oil Crops in China, Changsha 410128, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition in Common University / National Engineering Grain and Oil Crops in China, Changsha 410128, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition in Common University / National Engineering Grain and Oil Crops in China, Changsha 410128, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use / Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition in Common University / National Engineering Grain and Oil Crops in China, Changsha 410128, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: National Center of Oilseed Crops Improvement, Hunan Branch, Changsha 410128, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D029741:Brassica rapa / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005308:Fertilizers; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005308:Fertilizers; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Controlled-release fertilizer; Early ripening rapeseed; Fertilizer usage efficiency; Nutrient uptake; Yield