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Nutrient uptake of iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper in transgenic maize (Zea mays) as affected by rotation systems and N application rates

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Abstract

Understanding the interaction of macro- and micronutrients is a prerequisite to targeting nutrient balance in crop production. A 3-year field study was conducted to determine mineral nutrient uptake of maize hybrids with N fertilizer application under different rotation systems. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design with rotation [maize-alfalfa (MA), maize-soybean (MS), and continuous maize (MM)] by N rate (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha−1) as the mainplot and hybrid as the subplot. Two additional treatments (200 and 250 kg N ha−1) were tested in MM. Maize plant total Mg, Zn, and Cu content were in the order: MA > MS > MM. Plant Fe uptake was the lowest in MA and not affected by N input. The increased Cu uptake with increasing N rates indicated the synergism of these two nutrients, whereas dilution effects of N application on stover Zn and Mg concentrations were recorded. Rotation systems and N rates interactively affected nutrient harvest index and internal efficiency of Zn, Mg, Fe, and Cu. Relationships of plant N with Cu and Mg concentrations, and N with Zn, Mg, and Cu content at the V6 stage were established, but they were not necessarily preserved at maturity due to the progressive synergistic and dilution effects. The findings of nutrient uptake of Cu, Zn, Mg and Fe and their relationships with N nutrition in maize with stacked transgenic traits are important for developing best management practices to achieve concurrent improvements in nutrient use efficiency and crop productivity.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported in part, by the Sustainable Science and Technology Advancement Project (J-001409) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). We wish to thank Doug Balchin (retired), Lynne Evenson, Scott Patterson (retired), and Ulrica McKim of AAFC at the Ottawa Research and Development Centre (ORDC), for their excellent technical assistance in executing the experiment. AAFC-ORDC contribution No. 18-014.

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  1. Ottawa Research and Development Centre (ORDC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada

    Bao-Luo Ma & Zhiming Zheng

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  1. Bao-Luo Ma
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  2. Zhiming Zheng
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Correspondence to Bao-Luo Ma.

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2018 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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Ma, BL., Zheng, Z. Nutrient uptake of iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper in transgenic maize (Zea mays) as affected by rotation systems and N application rates. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 112, 27–43 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-018-9925-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-018-9925-7

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