Abstract: Taking wheat varieties Yumai 49-198 (multi-spike phenotype) and Lankao Aizao 8 (large-spike phenotype) as test materials, field experiments were conducted at Wenxian and Lankao sites of Henan Province to study the effects of nitrogen fertilization on their population dynamics and yield and on the alteration of soil nitrogen. Five nitrogen application rates, i.e., 0, 90, 180, 270, and 360 N kg·hm^-2 were installed. The population amount of the two test varieties were all increased after emergence, reached the highest at jointing stage, and decreased afterwards. As for Yumai 49-198, its population amount had no significant differences at wintering and turning-green stages among the five nitrogen application rates and two experimental sites, but differed significantly after jointing stage with the nitrogen application rates. For Lankao Aizao 8, its population amount had no significant differences among the nitrogen application rates during whole growth period. The grain yield of the two varieties increased with the increase of nitrogen fertilization rate, but excessive nitrogen fertilization decreased the grain yield. Yumai 49-198 had the highest yield at 270 N kg·hm^-2, being 9523 and 9867 kg·hm^-2 at Wenxian and Lanako sites, respectively, while Lankao Aizao 8 had the highest yield at 180 N kg·hm^-2, being 9258 and 9832 kg·hm^-2 at Wenxian and Lanako sites, respectively. With the increase of nitrogen fertilization rate, soil nitrate N concentration and apparent nitrogen loss increased. At Wenxian and Lankao sites, the apparent soil nitrogen loss for Yumai 49-198 was 32.56%-51.84% and -16.7%-42.6% of fertilized nitrogen, and that for Lankao Aizao 8 was 18.58%-52.94% and -11.5%-45.8% of fertilized nitrogen, respectively. Considering the yield and environmental effect comprehensively, the nitrate N concentration in 0-90 cm soil layer in our case should not be exceeded 120-140 kg·hm^-2, and the maximal nitrogen application rate should not be exceeded 180 kg·hm^-2.

Key words: high-yielding wheat, population dynamics, nitrate nitrogen, apparent nitrogen loss, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, P level, lateral root formation, tomato.