Abstract
In-season N fertilization is increasingly being used as a management strategy to reduce risk of N loss to the environment. This study evaluated the optimal timing for a split N fertilizer application in corn (Zea mays L.) across different environments and soil textural classes in Minnesota. Treatments consisted of pre-plant (PP) urea applied at 0 to 270 or 315 kg N ha–1 on increments of 45 kg N ha–1 and five split applications (SA) of 45 kg N ha–1 urea ammonium nitrate as starter fertilizer and 90 kg N ha–1 of urea with an urease inhibitor applied at the V2, V4, V6, V8, or V12 stage of corn phenological development. Site-years were grouped according to grain yield response to fertilizer timing. Irrigated coarse-textured soils produced 1.5- to 1.9-fold greater grain yield when fertilizer was split applied from V4 to V12 due to improved synchrony of N availability to crop demand and reduced potential for NO3–N leaching. Rainfed, fine-textured soils had mixed results. Site-years receiving welldistributed precipitation produced greater grain yield when fertilizer was split applied from V2 to V8, but early season N deficiency reduced yield for the V12 application. Site-years with limited precipitation during the late vegetative through grain filling stages of corn had no improvement in grain yield or N use efficiencies for SA because dry soil conditions likely interfered with root development and made N fertilizer positionally unavailable to the crop. This study highlights that the success of SA is largely dictated by soil texture and precipitation.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2018-2030 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Agronomy Journal |
| Volume | 111 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2019 |
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Soil texture and precipitation influence optimal time of nitrogen fertilization for corn. / Spackman, Jared A.; Fernandez, Fabián G.; Coulter, Jeffrey A.; Kaiser, Daniel E.; Paiao, Gabriel.
In: Agronomy Journal, Vol. 111, No. 4, 01.07.2019, p. 2018-2030.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Soil texture and precipitation influence optimal time of nitrogen fertilization for corn
AU - Spackman, Jared A.
AU - Fernandez, Fabián G.
AU - Coulter, Jeffrey A.
AU - Kaiser, Daniel E.
AU - Paiao, Gabriel
PY - 2019/7/1
Y1 - 2019/7/1
N2 - In-season N fertilization is increasingly being used as a management strategy to reduce risk of N loss to the environment. This study evaluated the optimal timing for a split N fertilizer application in corn (Zea mays L.) across different environments and soil textural classes in Minnesota. Treatments consisted of pre-plant (PP) urea applied at 0 to 270 or 315 kg N ha–1 on increments of 45 kg N ha–1 and five split applications (SA) of 45 kg N ha–1 urea ammonium nitrate as starter fertilizer and 90 kg N ha–1 of urea with an urease inhibitor applied at the V2, V4, V6, V8, or V12 stage of corn phenological development. Site-years were grouped according to grain yield response to fertilizer timing. Irrigated coarse-textured soils produced 1.5- to 1.9-fold greater grain yield when fertilizer was split applied from V4 to V12 due to improved synchrony of N availability to crop demand and reduced potential for NO3–N leaching. Rainfed, fine-textured soils had mixed results. Site-years receiving welldistributed precipitation produced greater grain yield when fertilizer was split applied from V2 to V8, but early season N deficiency reduced yield for the V12 application. Site-years with limited precipitation during the late vegetative through grain filling stages of corn had no improvement in grain yield or N use efficiencies for SA because dry soil conditions likely interfered with root development and made N fertilizer positionally unavailable to the crop. This study highlights that the success of SA is largely dictated by soil texture and precipitation.
AB - In-season N fertilization is increasingly being used as a management strategy to reduce risk of N loss to the environment. This study evaluated the optimal timing for a split N fertilizer application in corn (Zea mays L.) across different environments and soil textural classes in Minnesota. Treatments consisted of pre-plant (PP) urea applied at 0 to 270 or 315 kg N ha–1 on increments of 45 kg N ha–1 and five split applications (SA) of 45 kg N ha–1 urea ammonium nitrate as starter fertilizer and 90 kg N ha–1 of urea with an urease inhibitor applied at the V2, V4, V6, V8, or V12 stage of corn phenological development. Site-years were grouped according to grain yield response to fertilizer timing. Irrigated coarse-textured soils produced 1.5- to 1.9-fold greater grain yield when fertilizer was split applied from V4 to V12 due to improved synchrony of N availability to crop demand and reduced potential for NO3–N leaching. Rainfed, fine-textured soils had mixed results. Site-years receiving welldistributed precipitation produced greater grain yield when fertilizer was split applied from V2 to V8, but early season N deficiency reduced yield for the V12 application. Site-years with limited precipitation during the late vegetative through grain filling stages of corn had no improvement in grain yield or N use efficiencies for SA because dry soil conditions likely interfered with root development and made N fertilizer positionally unavailable to the crop. This study highlights that the success of SA is largely dictated by soil texture and precipitation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071013642&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.2134/agronj2018.09.0605
DO - 10.2134/agronj2018.09.0605
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85071013642
VL - 111
SP - 2018
EP - 2030
JO - Agronomy Journal
JF - Agronomy Journal
SN - 0002-1962
IS - 4
ER -