Estimating nutrient uptake requirements for radish in China based on QUEFTS model

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Soil Science
• Plant Nutrition

Background:

• Imbalanced fertilization in China leads to reduced radish yield and nutrient use efficiency.
• Accurate estimation of nutrient requirements is essential for optimizing radish production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between fleshy root yield and nutrient accumulation in radish.
• To estimate the balanced nutrient requirements (N, P, K) for radish production using the QUEFTS model.
• To validate the model's effectiveness for radish cultivation in China.

Main Methods:

• Utilized on-farm experimental data from radish-growing regions in China (2000-2017).
• Employed the Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model to simulate nutrient uptake and yield.
• Conducted field validation experiments to confirm model predictions.

Main Results:

• QUEFTS model predicted linear yield increase with balanced nutrient uptake up to 60%-70% of potential yield.
• Simulated balanced N, P, and K requirements were 2.15, 0.45, and 2.58 kg per 1000 kg of fleshy root.
• Internal efficiencies (IEs) for N, P, and K were 465.1, 2222.2, and 387.1 kg kg⁻¹, respectively.
• N, P, and K removal in fleshy roots were 1.34, 0.30, and 1.93 kg per 1000 kg of fleshy root, with 62-75% of plant nutrients in the root.
• Field validation confirmed consistency between observed and simulated nutrient uptake.

Conclusions:

• The QUEFTS model is effective for estimating radish nutrient requirements.
• Findings contribute to developing optimized fertilizer recommendations for radish in China.
• Improved fertilization strategies can enhance radish yield and nutrient use efficiency.