Corn (Zea mays L.) Grain and Stover Yield as Affected by Soil Residual Mineral Nitrogen

Evaluation of nitrogen (N) dynamic in soil using regression equations is important for proper determination of N fertilization. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to (1) develop the best-fitted regression model relating corn grain and stover yield to soil residual ammonium (NH₄)-N and nitrate (NO₃)-N for corn yield prediction and (2) evaluate how such a model can be beneficial to the health of ecosystem by predicting the appropriate rates of N fertilization for corn production. Soil NH₄-N and NO₃-N were determined at corn harvest at the depths of 0–30 and 30–60 cm. Nitrogen fertilizer rates and soil mineral N accounted for a maximum of 93% variation in corn grain yield. Soil mineral N enhanced corn yield more than N fertilizer. Totals of 63.1 and 14.1 kg/ha of soil residual NO₃-N and NH₄-N were found in the 0- to 60-cm depth, indicating the importance of performing soil N tests.     

Effect of N supply on apparent recovery of fertilizer N as crop N and Nmin in soil during and after cultivation of winter cereals

Field trials were conducted over two years to investigate the effect of increasing N supply on apparent fertilizer N recovery by winter cereal crops (4 × wheat and 2 × barley) and on non‐recovered N. Apparent fertilizer N recovery was calculated by comparing N in fertilized and unfertilized crops. Non‐recovered N is defined as N which was neither found in crops nor soil mineral N (N_min = NH₄‐N + NO₃‐N). At N supply levels according to common farming practice (N_cfp = 190 to 220 kg N/ha), 60— 93% of the fertilizer N was recovered in crops at harvest, while at high N supply levels of 265 to 273 kg N/ha 58—76% of fertilizer N was recovered. There were small differences in soil N_min in 0—200 cm between N_cfp and unfertilized plots, but substantial increases in N_min occurred at the highest N supply. Amounts of non‐recovered N differed substantially between sites (maximum value of 84 kg N/ha). Non‐recovered N increased with increasing N rate on only 3 out of the 6 sites, indicating that N immobilization was not necessarily dependent on N rate. The fate of non‐recovered N was studied for a further year by growing catch crops on the sites after cereal harvest. N re‐mineralization deduced from changes in catch crop N and in N_min indicated that non‐recovered N had been immobilized in the soil. At three sites, crop N uptake was found between milk‐ripe stage and harvest (19 to 60 kg N/ha) suggesting substantial uptake of N mineralized from soil. However, grain yields were lower with N rates below N_cfp, indicating that late net soil N mineralization could not compensate for reductions in N fertilizer rate in these trials.     

OPTIMAL N FERTILIZATION,USING TOTAL AND MINERAL N,AFFECTING CORN (ZEA MAYS L.) GRAIN N UPTAKE

Measurement of total and mineral nitrogen (N), resulted by the presence of soil organic matter, would make the more precise determination of N fertilization possible with respect to the amounts of N absorbed by crop grains. Such a test requires a wide range of soil properties and observations. Accordingly, in a three-year experiment, grain N uptake and soil total and mineral N were determined using different analytical methods (standard laboratory and the N-Trak quick method). The other experimental treatments consisted of sampling time (seeding and postseeding where plants were about 30 cm tall), sampling depths (0–30 and 30–60 cm) as well as the condition of samples (wet or dry). Using regression equations the effects of N fertilization and soil total and mineral N on the uptake of grain N was investigated. Accordingly, the proposed N test predicted the optimum N fertilizer amounts of 236 to 271 kg ha^?1 for corn production.     

Grain yield and crop N offtake in response to residual fertilizer N in long‐term field experiments

Organic inputs [e.g. animal manure (AM) and plant residues] contribute directly to the soil organic N pool, whereas mineral N fertilizer contributes indirectly by increasing the return of the crop residues and by microbial immobilization. To evaluate the residual effect of N treatments established in four long‐term (>35 yr) field experiments, we measured the response of barley (grain yield and N offtake at crop maturity) to six rates (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg N/ha) of mineral fertilizer N (N_new) applied in subplots replacing the customary long‐term plot treatments of fertilizer inputs (N_prev). Rates of N_prev above 50–100 kg N/ha had no consistent effect on the soil N content, but this was up to 20% greater than that in unfertilized treatments. Long‐term unfertilized plots should not be used as control to test the residual value of N in modern agriculture with large production potentials. Although the effect of mineral N_prev on grain yield and N offtake could be substituted by N_new within a range of previous inputs, the value of N_prev was not eliminated irrespective of N_new rate. Provided a sufficient supply of plant nutrients other than N, the use‐efficiency of N_new did not change significantly with previous mineral N fertilizer rate. The residual effect of mineral N fertilizer was negligible compared with the residual effect of N from AM and catch crop residues.     

Kalkulatorische Ermittlung des Nmin-Sollwertes im Gemüsebau unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Stickstoffimmobilisierung bzw. - fixierung

Calculation of the N_min target value (N_min-Sollwert) in vegetable cultivation with special regard to N-immobilization respectively N-fixation When establishing target values for N fertilization (N_min-Sollwert = optimal sum of soil mineral N at the beginning of cultivation and fertilizer N) experimentally the components of the N balance are restricted to N_min target value, N_min supply of the soil and N fertilizer amount. In fertilization experiments any other processes in N dynamics are included in the target value without being noticed. If N_min target values are to be calculated such simplified reflection is not longer possible. In this case the most important components of the N balance have to be determined and quantified. Up to now the formulas to calculate the N_min target value have included the N uptake of the crop (also called “N demand”), frequently the necessary minimum mineral N content at harvest time in the rooted soil layer, sometimes the N release during the cultivation period. Immission, denitrification, leaching and others during the summer half-year have been considered in only a few cases. Calculated N_min target values from N uptake of the crop plus necessary minimum mineral N content in the soil at harvest time minus N release yields in all cases studied distinctly lower values than determining them by fertilizer experiments. Only if a calculated quantity “deficit” is included a satisfactory agreement between the two values is attained. There are indications that this quantity consists mainly of temporarily bound or immobilized nitrogen.     

On-farm trials of site-specific N management for maximum winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) yield

Site-specific nitrogen (N) fertilizer strategy based on soil mineral N (N_min) test is crucial for maintaining high crop yield and high N-use efficiency. A two-year field experiment was conducted to develop a site-specific N fertilizer management for winter oilseed rape in the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons in Wuhan, central China. In contrast to fixed N fertilizer recommendation (FN), the use of the N_min test could optimize the N fertilizer inputs in time to fulfill crop N uptake during different growth stages and achieve high seed yield. Despite annual variations in seed yields and N fertilizer recommendations, the N recovery efficiency of the site-specific N fertilizer (SN) treatment was higher than that of the FN treatment. Consequently, the soil-based N strategy matches crop N uptake and soil N supply and achieves high yield depending on the site-specific soil-crop conditions.     

Importance of soil mineral N in early spring and subsequent net N mineralisation for winter wheat following winter oilseed rape and peas in a milder climate

Abstract

Nine biennial field experiments, 2000–2004, in south Sweden, 55–56°N, with winter wheat following winter oilseed rape, peas, and oats, were used to estimate the impact of a future milder climate on winter wheat production in central Sweden, 58–60°N. The trials included studies 1) on losses during winter of soil mineral nitrogen (N_min, 0–90 cm soil), accumulated after the preceding crops in late autumn, 2) on soil N mineralisation (N_net) during the growing season of the wheat (early spring to ripeness) and 3) on grain yield and optimum N fertilisation (Opt-N rate) of the wheat. Average N_min in late autumn following winter oilseed rape, peas, and oats was 68, 64, and 45 kg ha^?1, respectively, but decreased until early spring. Increased future losses of N_min during the winter in central Sweden due to no or very short periods with soil frost should enhance the demand for fertiliser N and reduce the better residual N effect of winter oilseed rape and peas, compared with oats. Their better N effect will then mainly depend on larger N_net (from March to maturity during the winter wheat year). Owing to more plant-available soil N (mainly as N_net) Opt-N rates were lower after oilseed rape and peas than after oats despite increased wheat yields (700 kg ha^?1) at optimum N fertilisation. In addition to these break crop effects, a milder climate should increase winter wheat yields in central Sweden by 2000–3000 kg ha^?1 and require about 30–45 kg ha^?1 more fertiliser N at optimum N fertilisation than the present yield levels. Increased losses and higher N fertilisation to the subsequent winter wheat in future indicates a need for an estimation of the residual N effect at the individual sites, rather than using mean values as at present, to increase N efficiency.     

Soil mineral nitrogen dynamics in fallow periods in a rainfed semiarid Mediterranean agricultural systems

Rainfed agricultural systems in semiarid Mediterranean environments are subject to erratic but often heavy rainfall events.As an agronomic practice,fallow periods can be included even within the existing European Union common policy for crop diversification.This study aimed to quantify the effects of previous mineral fertilization on soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin) content and potential nitrate leaching during no-till fallow periods of crop rotation.The Leaching Estimation and Chemistry Model (LEAC...     

Abhängigkeit des pflanzenverfügbaren Stickstoffs (Nmin) von den Humusgehalten und der mineralischen N-Düngung auf einem fränkischen Weinbaustandort

Correlation between available nitrogen (N_min) humus content and mineral nitrogen fertilization in a selected Franconian vineyard Monthly N_min-investigation had been carried out in the rooting zone of the soil profile on a sandy clayloam rigosol, with two different humus contents. The experimentations were conducted from 1980 to 1983 with different levels of nitrogen fertilization. The actual N_min-contents are following an annual cycle which depends on the weather conditions. Maximum amounts of N_min were found during summer months and minimum amounts during the winter period; soil temperature, soil moisture, intensity and distribution of rain characterized the diagramm. The humus contents have a major effect on the N_min-contents of the soil. In the average of the years at humus contents of 4% and 2.25% the N_min-contents were 138 kg/ha and 69 kg/ha respectively. Depending on the time of the spreading and given weather conditions, the mineral nitrogen fertilization led to an increase of N_min-contents many times over the quantity of supplied. This increase in N_min-contents after mineral N-fertilization remains in the soil over a period of several months.     

施氮对春玉米氮素利用及农田氮素平衡的影响

田间试验研究了玉米对不同土壤氮素供应水平下作物氮素吸收利用、土壤氮素供应以及农田氮素平衡的影响。结果表明,玉米产量随施氮量的增加而显著提高,当施氮量高于N 240 kg/hm2时,产量有减少趋势;氮素当季利用率随施氮量的增加逐渐降低。土壤中硝态氮含量在玉米整个生育时期呈现先迅速下降后缓慢升高的趋势;玉米成熟期,施氮处理的各层土壤中硝态氮含量显著高于不施氮处理,各层硝态氮含量基本随施氮量的增加而升高。适量施氮促进玉米对氮素的吸收和利用,进而提高玉米生物量和产量;过量施氮导致硝态氮在土壤中大量累积,提高了硝态氮淋溶风险。施氮处理显著提高了收获后土壤中残留无机氮(Nmin),土壤残留Nmin随施氮量的增加而增加;当施氮量高于N 240 kg/hm2时,残留Nmin有下降趋势。氮素表观损失随施氮量的增加而增加。在本试验条件下,综合产量、氮肥利用率和土壤硝态氮累积情况考虑,合理施氮量应控制在N 1802~40 kg/hm2左右。     

Nitrogen fertilization and cropping system impacts on soil properties and their relationship to crop yield in the central Corn Belt, USA

Evaluating the effects of management practices on soil physical and chemical properties would be valuable to explain field-level variability in crop production. A 23-year-old experiment on a Muscatune soil (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic, Aquic Argiudolls) in Illinois with five N rates [0 (N₀), 70 (N₁), 140 (N₂), 210 (N₃) and 280 (N₄) kg N ha⁻¹] and two cropping systems [continuous corn (Zea mays L.) (CC), and corn–soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation (CS)] was evaluated. Specific objectives were to: (i) evaluate the effects of long-term N fertilization and cropping systems on field level changes in soil physical and chemical properties and crop yield, (ii) identify the most responsive soil physical and chemical properties to N fertilizer and crop management, and (iii) investigate the relationship between the selected soil properties and crop yield. Soil was collected in May 2004 to 30 cm depth and 20 soil physical and chemical properties were measured. The univariate analysis indicated that 14 soil properties were significantly influenced by at least one treatment effect (crops, N or crops × N). Due to multicollinearity among soil properties, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to group correlated properties, resulting in five soil properties such as soil organic carbon stock (OC stock), mean weight diameter (MWD), soil C:N ratio, exchangeable potassium (K⁺) and gravimetric moisture content (ω). Finally, the multiple regression analysis performed between PCA derived soil properties and corn and soybean yields retained all the representative soil properties from PCA except ω as yield predictors for corn (P < 0.001, R² = 0.39) from CC system, whereas none of the soil properties were significantly related to corn and soybean yields from CS system. The soil properties most influenced by long-term N fertilization of continuous corn were successfully identified with PCA and multiple regression. The insignificant relationship between corn and soybean yields from CS system and PCA derived soil properties might be due to the lack of response of soybean to N fertilization. This study shows the integrated use of multivariate and regression analyses in identifying yield determining soil properties by eliminating the multicollinearity among soil properties.     

Nmin−Gehalt im Boden,mineralische N-Düngung und N-Entzug von Winterweizen im Internationalen Organischen Stickstoffdauerdüngungsversuch (IOSDV) Berlin-Dahlem

N_mim content in the soil, N-fertilization and N uptake of winter wheat in the international organic nitrogen long-term fertilization experiment (IOSDV) Berlin-Dahlem During the 9th and 10th year of the long-term IOSDV field experiment micro plots were put in three treatments. Labelled¹⁵ N (160 resp. 110 kg/ha N as ammonium sulfate) was fertilized to winter wheat subdivided into three portions. N_min in soil was determined five times during the season, plant biomass was harvested at different growth stages and N uptake was calculated. Using the¹⁵ N-technique permitted a discrimination between fertilizer-N and soil-N. Preferential uptake of fertilizer-N by the wheat crop but also immobilisation in soil were observed until June. Subsequently the immobilized N was remineralized and assimilated by wheat. But the native N_min of soil was minimaly utilized during the initial growth of wheat. Therefore the absolute amount of soluble N temporarily increased caused by a mineralisation of the organic matter.     

Leaching of mineral nitrogen in the soil influenced by addition of compost and N-mineral fertilizer

This paper deals with the problem of mineral N leaching from arable lands due to the fertilization method. The influence of different doses of compost (50 and 100?Mg ha^?1) and N-mineral fertilizer (35-70-140 kg N ha^?1) on leaching of N_min in a lysimetric experiment with winter wheat. The area of our interest represents the main source of drinking water for the city of Brno and its neighborhoods. To demonstrate the effect of compost and mineral nitrogen addition, the lysimetric experiment was established there. Seven variants of the experiment with different fertilization schemes were studied during two vegetation seasons (2013 and 2014), each with three repetitions. The experiment was carried out in plastic experimental containers of 0.3 m diameter and 0.5 m height. Therefore, each lysimeter was the same size and was filled with 25 kg of subsoil and 25 kg of topsoil. The highest leaching of N_min was detected in the variant C2 where 140 kg N ha^?1 was applied, in both vegetation periods (5.97 kg N_min ha^?1 after the first vegetation period and 17.02 kg N_min ha^?1 after the second vegetation period). The positive effect of compost application (individually or in combination with the mineral N) on decrease in mineral N leaching was found during both vegetation period in comparison with variant C2. The highest doses of compost (100?Mg per ha) significantly decreased the concentration of mineral nitrogen in the soil eluate in both periods (3.03 kg N_min ha^?1 and 5.79 kg N_min ha^?1, respectively), by 197% and 293% in comparison with variant C2. There is evidence that the application of compost has a positive effect on the reduction of N_min leaching.     

Effets des engrais N,P et K sur le rendement et la qualite de l'ensilage ue mais

Abstract

Thirteen fertility trials were made throughout Quebec's corn growing region during 1972–74. These included eleven fertilizer combinations with corn silage as the test crop and were carried out on nine soils. Total dry matter and digestible nutrients (TDN) varied greatly from year to year, though, mean yields increased by 23 and 30 percent respectively with the 50 kg N/ha treatment, compared to control receiving no nitrogen fertilization. However, 150 kg N/ha was required to attain a maximum yield of 1250 kg/ha crude protein. Despite a 0.2 percent nitrate content found in the silage grown on the most northerly site, a 120 kg P/ha combined with 100 kg N and K gave the highest mean TDN production (9580 kg/ha).

Potassium fertilization affected plant K content of corn grown at the most northerly site only, where a 0.5 percent was found with the control on a suit containing low potassium levels. Further, striking increases in Ca and Mg concentrations were observed with corn grown on that soil. However, magnesium concentration ranging from 0.11 to 0.14 percent were found with nine field trials out of twelve. Also, low K:(Ca + Mg) ratios were found on three trials, which were increased with potassium fertilization levels of 150 kg K/ha. Accordingly, it is suggested that uptakes of 200, 48, 200, 30 and 30 kg/ha of N, P, K, Ca and Mg are required for good corn silage crops.     

Simulating nitrate retention in soils and the effect of catch crop use and rooting pattern under the climatic conditions of Northern Europe

This model analysis of catch crop effects on nitrate retention covered three soil texture classes (sand, loamy sand, sandy loam) and three precipitation regimes in a temperate climate representative of northern Europe (annual precipitation 709–1026 mm) for a period of 43 years. Simulations were made with two catch crops (ryegrass and Brassica) with different rooting depths, and soil N effects in the next spring were analysed to 0.25, 0.75 and 2.0 m depth to represent the catch crop effect on following crops with different rooting depths. Nitrate retained without a catch crop was generally located in deeper soil layers. In the low precipitation regime the overall fraction of nitrate retained in the 0–2.0 m soil profile was 0.23 for the sandy soil, 0.69 for the loamy sand and 0.81 for the sandy loam. Ryegrass reduced leaching losses much less efficiently than Brassica, which depleted nitrate in the 0–0.75 m soil layer more completely, but also in the deeper soil layer, which the ryegrass could not reach. A positive N effect (N_eff, spring mineral N availability after catch crop compared with bare soil) was found in the 0–0.25 m layer (that is shallow rooting depth of a subsequent main crop) in all three soil texture classes, with on average 10 kg N/ha for ryegrass and 34 kg N/ha for Brassica. Considering the whole soil profile (0–2.0 m deep rooting of next crop), a positive N_eff was found in the sand whereas generally a negative N_eff was found in the loamy sand and especially the sandy loam. The simulations showed that for shallow‐rooted crops, catch crop N_eff values were always positive, whereas N_eff for deeper‐rooted crops depended strongly on soil type and annual variations in precipitations. These results are crucial both for farmers crop rotation planning and for design of appropriate catch crop strategies with the aim of protecting the aquatic environment.     

改善根系生长捕获深层土中NO3-N最优化免耕玉米氮肥利用率

Subsoil acidity restricts root growth and reduces crop yields in many parts of the world. More than half of the fertilizer nitrogen(N) applied in crop production is currently lost to the environment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of gypsum application on the efficiency of N fertilizer in no-till corn(Zea mays L.) production in southern Brazil. A field experiment examined the effects of surface-applied gypsum(0, 5, 10, and 15 Mg ha~(-1)) and top-dressed ammonium nitrate(NH_4NO_3)(60, 120, and 180 kg N ha~(-1)) on corn root length, N uptake, and grain yield. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using undisturbed soil columns collected from the field experiment site to evaluate NO_3-N leaching, N uptake, and root length with surface-applied gypsum(0 and 10 Mg ha~(-1)) and top-dressed NH_4NO_3(0 and 180 kg N ha~(-1)). Amelioration of subsoil acidity due to gypsum application increased corn root growth,N uptake, grain yield, and N use efficiency. Applying gypsum to the soil surface increased corn grain yield by 19%–38% and partial factor productivity of N(PFPN) by 27%–38%, depending on the N application rate. Results of the undisturbed soil column greenhouse experiment showed that improvement of N use efficiency by gypsum application was due to the higher N uptake from NO_3-N in the subsoil as a result of increased corn root length. Our results suggest that ameliorating subsoil acidity with gypsum in a no-till corn system could increase N use efficiency, improve grain yield, and reduce environmental risks due to NO_3-N leaching.     

Simulating the effect of potassium fertilization on carbon sequestration in soil

The impact of horticultural management on carbon sequestration in soils has been limited so far to tillage and nitrogen fertilization. Our objective was to evaluate by mathematical modeling the effect of potassium fertilization on CO₂ binding in cropland soils. The developed model integrates three subunits: (1) A published simulator of crop dry‐matter (DM) production in response to N, P, K fertilization, but not DM partitioning; (2) a published soil–crop–atmosphere model predicting crop yield and DM partitioning as a function of N but not K fertilization; (3) an original model computing the organic‐inorganic carbon transformations, inorganic‐carbon reactions and transport in soil, CO₂ diffusion, and soil carbon sequestration. The model described the K‐fertilization effect on C binding in soil as a function of the soil pH, the Ca²⁺ concentration in the soil solution, hydraulic properties, air temperature, and crop DM production, and partitioning characteristics. In scenarios of corn (Zea mays L.) growth in clayey soil and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in loam soil, the computed K‐induced CO₂ sequestration amounted to ≈ 14.5 and 24 kg CO₂ (kg K)^–1, respectively (0 vs. 100 kg ha^–1 K application). The soil CO₂ sequestration declined by 8% when corn grew in sandy instead of clayey soil and by 20% when the temperature was 10°C higher than the temperature prevailing in mild semiarid zones. All predicted CO₂‐sequestration results were approximately 30‐fold higher than the 0.6 kg CO₂ emitted per kg of K manufactured in industry.     

Untersuchungen zur Anpassung des Stickstoff-Angebots aus unterschiedlichen N-Quellen an den Verlauf der N-Aufnahme von Maisbeständen

Investigations on the adjustment of nitrogen supply from different N sources to the N uptake of maize A two years field experiment was conducted to study the effects of the nitrogen fertilizers: wheat swill, BASAMMON (NH₄ + nitrification inhibitor DCD) and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) applied at N rates of 0.60.120 or 180 kg N/ha on yield, N uptake and soil mineral N residues of maize for silage or grain production. CAN was either broadcast or placed in the maize rows, with or without the addition of an Azospirillum-biopreparation (AZOGREEN). Due to initially high soil mineral N contents (50–70 kg N/ha) and a high mineralization from the soil (unfertilized: 100–170 kg N/ha), neither effects of fertilizer type, nor interactions between fertilizer type and N rate on biomass production and N uptake of maize were observed. The economically optimum total dry matter production and grain yield were obtained with a fertilization of 60–120 kg N/ha. In contrast to the biomass production the soil mineral N was considerably influenced by fertilizer type and N rate. The nitrate content of the soil increased during the early developmental stages of maize after an early application of swill or BASAMMON, and also during the ripening period after a late high dose of CAN. Though the placement of CAN was reflected in the soil, the soil nitrogen content per unit area could not be much reduced by row fertilization. The effects of AZOGREEN were only small. The results were greatly influenced by the high mineralization potential at the experimental site.     

Corn Monoculture Yield Response to Fertilization and Nitrate Nitrogen Distribution

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of fertilization system, nitrate (NO₃)– nitrogen (N) distribution along soil profile, and their interaction on corn yield. The study was conducted at the experimental field of Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad (Serbia) during 2001–2004. Corn monoculture included four fertilization variants: control (Ø), nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) mineral fertilizers, mineral fertilizer + corn stalks (NPK + S), and mineral fertilizers + manure (NPK + M). The greatest yield was found in the variant NPK + M (9.25 t ha^?1). Path coefficients showed that greatest direct positive effects on corn yield were exhibited by NO₃-N levels at soil depths of 60–90 cm and 30–60 cm. The path analysis showed that winter precipitation (WP) had a direct negative effect on yield performance. However, the effect of the downward movement of NO₃-N from the topsoil to deeper soil layers of WP on yield was positive.