Critical Nitrogen Dilution Curve for Optimizing Nitrogen Management of Winter Wheat Production in the North China Plain

Investigating critical N concentration, that is, the minimum N concentration necessary to achieve maximum growth, provides insights into N nutrition and can serve as a guide to improving agricultural practices and regulations. Our objectives were to evaluate N dilution curves for deficient, optimal, and excess added N and to determine the critical N dilution curve for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the North China Plain (NCP) based on 15 N fertilization experiments with three to six N fertilization rates. The N supplements significantly affected the N dilution curve, and increased N supply generally resulted in a greater N concentration. The critical N dilution curve for winter wheat was described by the equation nitrogen concentration (N-c) = 4.15 W-0.38 when aboveground biomass was between 1 and 10 Mg dry matter (DM) ha(-1). When aboveground biomass was <1 Mg DM ha(-1), the constant critical value N-c = 4.15% DM, which was independent of aboveground biomass. This curve was lower than that of winter wheat in France. This critical N dilution curve was validated through the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) defined as the ratio between measured N concentration and critical N-c. The critical N dilution curve holds promise as an efficient tool for guiding N-fertilization practices and regulations for winter wheat production in the NCP.