Effect of NPK Application on Yield, Nutrients and Water Utilization Under Sudangrass and Ryegrass Rotation Regime

Sudangrass and ryegrass rotation is a new type of cropping system in Jianghan Plain, which develops very fast in recent years. So, it is essential to work out the optimal nutrients and water management measures in this new system. The effect of NPK fertilizer on yield of forage grass, nutrients and water utilization under sudangrass and ryegrass rotation was studied through continuous pot experiments for three years. The results showed that NPK combination could significantly improve the yield of forage grasses. The total yields during the periods of 2005–2006, 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 were 1690.0, 2091.3 and 1770.7 g/pot, respectively. The yields in PK treatment were 700.7, 1256.9 and 856.3% lower than those of NPK treatment, while the yields in NK treatment were 426.3, 384.9 and 792.3% lower than those of NPK treatment, respectively. Similarly, the yields in NP treatment were 15.9, 4.4 and 10.6% lower than those of NPK treatment, respectively. The NPK combination was found to improve the nutrients uptake, and the total N uptakes during the above periods were 10.0, 14.8 and 10.6 times higher than that of PK treatment, respectively, and 3.7, 1.8 and 5.1 times higher than those of NK treatment, respectively, but, were similar to NP treatment. The total P uptakes were 4.6, 6.8 and 5.3 times higher than those of PK treatment, and were 2.4, 2.3 and 2.9 times higher than those of NK treatment, respectively, but were similar to NP treatment. The total K uptakes were 5.2, 8.4 and 4.9 times higher than that of PK treatment, 3.9, 2.3 and 3.9 times higher than those of NK treatment, and 80.9, 57.4 and 200.5% higher than those of NP treatment, respectively. Water productivity for three years time periods were 16.5, 16.1 and 16.2 kg m−3, and were 3.8, 5.4 and 4.2 times higher than those of PK treatment, 2.3, 1.3 and 2.6 times higher than those of NK treatment, and were 16.4, 8.8 and 22.4% higher than those of NP treatment, respectively. The soil pH was decreased and soil organic matter was increased in all treatments with increase in the time of sudangrass and ryegrass rotation system. The total soil N was increased in NP, NK and NPK treatments, while it was stable in PK treatment. The available P in NP, PK and NPK treatments was increased significantly, while it was stable in NK treatment. The slow releasing K and available K were increased significantly in NK and PK treatments, but decreased in NP and NPK treatments. The treatment with NPK combination was found to improve the yield of forage, nutrient uptake and soil fertility in sudangrass and ryegrass rotation system.