Can We Reduce Rainfed Maize (Zea mays L.) Nitrogenous Fertilizer Application Rate with Addition of Nitrapyrin?

Application of nitrification inhibitor has potential to increase soil nitrogen (N) retention throughout the growing season and finally increase corn (Zea mays L.) yield. During the 2012–2014 growing seasons, on-farm field trials were conducted to determine the effects of nitrapyrin (Instinct) with two N sources, urea and urea ammonium nitrate, at two rates, 85% and 100% of recommended N, and side-dress on grain yield and soil inorganic N availability in the Red River Valley of the North Dakota. Preplant urea N at 100% recorded the greatest yield in 2 out of 3 years. At late sampling, the greatest soil inorganic N was observed with side-dress urea ammonium nitrate at 100% within 0–30 cm (last 2 years). For spring fertilizer N management, addition of nitrapyrin had no effect on yield and inconsistent effect on soil N availability. Our results suggest that fertilizer N management should be evaluated on a local scale and consider annual variability in weather.