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DOE OSTI · 3362826

Data for Nitrogen Dynamics and Physiological N Use Efficiency in High-biomass Sorghum

Jang, Chunhwa [Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Agroecosystem Sustainability Center, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA] (ORCID:0000000244281217)·Hoffman Jr, Leo [Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida-IFAS, Gainesville, Florida, USA] (ORCID:0000000252216378)·Villamil, Maria [Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA] (ORCID:0000000335598981)·Rooney, William [Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA] (ORCID:0000000179531856)·Lee, DoKyoung [Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Agroecosystem Sustainability Center, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA] (ORCID:0000000314019661)
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Abstract

Improving nitrogen (N) efficiency is essential for sustainable high-biomass sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench ) production. This study evaluated leaf and stem N dynamics, canopy N remobilization, and physiological nitrogen use efficiency (pNUE) in two photoperiod-sensitive sorghum hybrids under two N rates (0 and 168 kg-N ha−1) across multiple environments in Texas and Illinois. Leaf N concentrations increased with plant height in the canopy with steeper gradients under low-N conditions, indicating enhanced N remobilization when N is limited. Stem tissue showed less variation in N concentration across canopy nodal positions, with within-plant differences ranging from 1.2 to 7.6 g kg−1, compared to 3.1 to 16.3 g kg−1 in leaves. While pNUE was generally higher under unfertilized conditions, it varied largely by site; however, genotypic differences were minimal within the given year. These results highlight the importance of integrating environmental and management factors into breeding and fertilization strategies to enhance N efficiency in high-biomass sorghum.

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Jang, Chunhwa [Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Agroecosystem Sustainability Center, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA] (ORCID:0000000244281217), Hoffman Jr, Leo [Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida-IFAS, Gainesville, Florida, USA] (ORCID:0000000252216378), Villamil, Maria [Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA] (ORCID:0000000335598981), Rooney, William [Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA] (ORCID:0000000179531856), Lee, DoKyoung [Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Agroecosystem Sustainability Center, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA; Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA] (ORCID:0000000314019661). 2026-04-09. Data for Nitrogen Dynamics and Physiological N Use Efficiency in High-biomass Sorghum. https://doi.org/10.13012/b2idb-8910263_v1

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