The experiment was carried out to observe the influence of the CULTAN method (controlled uptake long term ammonium nutrition) on grain yield and yield formation of spring barley cultivar Jersey. In four-year small-plot experiment under conditions of the Czech Republic, two methods of nitrogen fertilization were used: conventional surface fertilization and local fertilizer injection rich in ammonium into soil during vegetation at BBCH 29-30 stages. Furthermore, the impact of sulphur amendment in fertilizer and increased dose of fertilizer were observed. Basic dose of nitrogen was 80 kg N/ha, increased dose 130 kg N/ha. At CULTAN treatment, same or significantly higher grain yields were obtained compared to conventional nitrogen fertilization. Grain yield at CULTAN fertilization is formed mainly on the main stem because of reduced tillering; it has the impact on significantly higher percentage of grain retained on 2.5 mm sieve. A tendency to lower protein content in grain was recorded at local injection of fertilizer compared to conventional fertilization. CULTAN-treated plants showed a lesser dependency of qualitative parameters on fertilizer dose and sulphur amendment in fertilizer. A positive influence of the CULTAN method on yield and quality of grain was observed mainly at the less fertile site.

A field experiment was conducted on a chernozem soil to estimate fertiliser N efficiency of silage maize (Zea mays L.) by the difference method as influenced by the type of N fertiliser (mineral-MF vs. sewage sludge-SS), and N rate. Eight N treatments were included (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N/ha prior to maize sowing, 60 kg N/ha at planting in MF; 120, and 240 kg N/ha in SS. The average dry mater (DM) yields were 11.2-14.8 t/ha. Average nitrogen uptakes were 88-185 kg N/ha, when the average N contents in DM were 0.8-1.25%. Nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) was a relatively stable value for treatments with MF. The best use of nitrogen from MF was reached by 60 and 120 kg/ha N doses. The average values of recovery efficiency of applied N (RE N ) were calculated as 41-57%. The use of SS increased the yield of silage maize by 19-25% compared to control, above all first and second year after their application. Mineral-fertilizer-N equivalents (MFE) for SS were calculated as 55 and 64%.

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Influence of CULTAN system (controlled uptake long term ammonium nutrition) on the nitrogen uptake by spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was observed at 5-year small-plot field experiments under conditions of the Czech Republic (central Europe). Nitrogen uptake by CULTAN-fertilized plants was more even during vegetation period probably due to delayed term of fertilizer application. Nitrogen concentration in the aboveground biomass at BBCH 51 and in straw had no effect on grain yield. Post-heading nitrogen uptake as well as contribution of nitrogen translocation to total nitrogen in grain did not differ among both nitrogen fertilization treatments. Increase in grain size of spring barley by the CULTAN system can be explained by tendency to lower number of ears per area rather than by prolonged nitrogen uptake from soil. Lower protein content in grain of CULTAN-fertilized spring barley can be caused by increase in grain retained on a 2.5 mm sieve and also decrease in total nitrogen concentration in aboveground biomass at BBCH 51. No significant effect of CULTAN treatment on nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen uptake efficiency was recorded. Significantly higher nitrogen utilization efficiency at CULTAN treatment could be explained by lower grain protein content compared to conventional treatment.

Influence of the nitrogen injection fertilization 'controlled uptake long term ammonium nutrition' (CULTAN) on winter rape yield and seed composition was studied in 2009 and 2010 at two sites with different soil-climatic conditions in the Czech Republic. Two conventional treatments consisted of fertilization using the system of divided doses applied on soil surface. Two CULTAN treatments used injection fertilization with the whole dose of nitrogen applied once in the vegetation period, in early spring at the BBCH 26 stage (6 side shoots detectable). The trial compared conventional and CULTAN treatments. The overall dose of nitrogen was 200 kg N/ha in each treatment. The seed yield in a two-year average was 4.83 t/ha at conventional and 4.80 t/ha at the CULTAN treatment. This difference was not statistically significant. The higher nitrogen content in seed was recorded mainly at CULTAN treatments at the Hněvčeves site in 2009. An inconclusively higher phosphorus content was recorded in winter rape seed fertilized with the CULTAN method at both sites in 2010. Content of K, Ca, Mg and S did not show statistically significant differences between the two treatments during both experimental years. In oiliness no differences between conventional and CULTAN methods were observed.