Evaluation of In-Season Nitrogen Management Strategies for Corn Production

• Published in: Agronomy journal 2008-11, Vol.100 (6), p.1711-1719
• Main Authors: Ruiz Diaz, D.A, Hawkins, J.A, Sawyer, J.E, Lundvall, J.P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; application timing; Biological and medical sciences; chlorophyll; corn; Crop production; detection; economic analysis; fertilizer rates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; grain yield; nitrogen; Nitrogen fertilization; nitrogen fertilizers; Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizations; nutrient deficiencies; nutrient management; plant nutrition; profitability; soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Zea mays
• ISSN: 0002-1962; 1435-0645
• DOI: 10.2134/agronj2008.0175

Nitrogen is an important and costly input for corn (Zea mays L.) production. With rising prices and environmental concerns, producers are looking for ways to better manage N fertilization. A project designed to evaluate in-season N management strategies for adjusting N rate was conducted in 30 Iowa cornfields from 2004 to 2006. Nitrogen rates applied preplant or early sidedress (PRE-N) and corn plant sensing with a chlorophyll meter (CM) to detect N stress was used to determine as-needed in-season post sensing nitrogen application (POST-N). Field-length strips were replicated three times with six N treatments: zero-N control, 67 kg N ha-1 (reduced PRE-N rate), 67+ (reduced PRE-N rate plus POST-N), 134 kg N ha-1 (agronomic PRE-N rate), 134+ (agronomic PRE-N rate plus POST-N), and 268 kg N ha-1 (PRE-N non-N limiting reference rate). Nitrogen deficiency stress sensing was partially successful, with 70 to 80% correct N deficiency detection. Mean yield increased 0.5 Mg ha-1 across all sites with the POST-N applied to the 67 kg N ha-1 PRE-N rate. The 67+ POST-N strategy had a similar total N applied as the agronomic 134 kg N ha-1 PRE-N rate, but the yield was 0.5 Mg ha-1 lower. This indicates yield potential loss and poor recovery from the POST-N applications. Economic return comparisons indicated that the agronomic 134 PRE-N rate and 134+ POST-N in-season strategy were similar and had higher return than the 67+ POST-N strategy. The agronomic PRE-N rate, with confirmation of N stress and determination of additional N need through plant sensing, was a more cost effective in-season strategy than starting with the reduced PRE-N rate.