Upper Threshholds of Nitrogen Uptake Rates and Associated Nitrogen Fertilizer Efficiencies in Irrigated Rice

Abstract Measurements of the N uptake rate of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) have usually been conducted over a period of 7 to 14 d. Such a sampling interval may not accurately determine the maximum rate, since information concerning N uptake dynamics during the first week after N topdressing is limited. In this study, N uptake dynamics and fertilizer N recovery efficiency following N topdressing were determined with more frequent samplings. Field experiments were conducted at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI) during the 1995 dry season. Treatments consisted of 0, 50, and 100 kg N ha −1 applied at midtillering (MT) or panicle initiation (PI). Tissue N concentration and N uptake were measured 0, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 14 d after N application. Fertilizer N recovery efficiency was estimated using the difference method. At PI, maximum N uptake rates of 9 to 12 kg ha −1 d −1 were measured over the 4‐d period following application of 100 kg N ha −1 , which is up to double the previously reported maximum value of 6 kg ha −1 d −1 . The much larger estimates of maximum N uptake rates in our study probably resulted from more frequent sampling than in previous studies. Nitrogen uptake rates at PI were similar, regardless of N rate at MT. Recovery efficiency of N applied at PI reached 74 to 78%, and was significantly higher than that at MT. Recovery efficiency was relatively insensitive to the amount of N applied at MT and PI, which suggests that high N fertilizer efficiency can be achieved with large rates of applied N when growth conditions are favorable.