Fertilizer Nitrogen Recovery Efficiency of Furrow-Irrigated Corn
2016
Roberts, Trenton L. | Slaton, Nathan A. | Kelley, Jason P. | Greub, Chester E. | Fulford, Anthony M.
Corn (Zea mays L.) yield under irrigated production systems is influenced by N rate and timing of application. This study was conducted to determine how current N application strategies (two-way vs. three-way split application) and N rate (optimal vs. suboptimal) influence fertilizer-nitrogen recovery efficiency (FNRE) for furrow-irrigated corn production in the mid-South. The effects of N rate and application timing on corn FNRE were investigated in Rohwer, AR, on a Herbert silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Aeric Epiaqualf). Corn grain yield and total-N uptake were both influenced by the interaction of N treatment and year (p < 0.0001). Corn grain yields were maximized when an optimal-N rate of 235 kg N ha–¹ was applied in a two-way split application with 50 kg N ha–¹ pre-plant and 185 kg N ha–¹ sidedressed at the V6 stage. The ANOVA for FNRE indicated that N treatment was the only significant factor (p < 0.0001) and varied based on N rate and time of application. The lowest FNRE was 61% and occurred when 50 kg N ha–¹ was applied pre-plant. The highest overall FNRE was 91% when 50 kg N ha–¹ was applied pre-tassel in the suboptimal-N rate treatment. The FNRE of N sidedressed at V6 ranged from 81 to 91% and was influenced by N rate with the suboptimal-N rate treatments tending to have significantly higher FNRE values. The results presented in this paper highlight the high FNRE that can be achieved in furrow-irrigated corn production.
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