Nitrogen Uptake and Utilisation in Red Fescue (Festuca rubra var. rubra) for Seed Production

Nitrogen Uptake and Utilisation in Red Fescue (Festuca rubra var. rubra) for Seed Production

Application and utilisation of nitrogen (N) is important from both an agronomic and environmental point of view. Increased utilisation of applied N will increase seed yield and the amount of N removed in the harvested straw and seed and concomitantly lower the amount of N than can potentially leach to ground and surface water. From an agronomic viewpoint it is important to understand the relationship between higher N uptake and seed yield. We know from several field experiments that the current year has a large impact on the uptake and utilisation of applied N due to soil available water, temperature and precipitation. On the other hand we have only limited knowledge in the area of utilisation of seed yield potential in combination with utilisation of N. Aims of the current study were therefore to explain seed yield increase by nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE), N uptake efficiency (NUpE), N utilization efficiency (NUtE) and number of fertile tillers in two red fescue field experiments in 2004 and 2005.