Adaptation to Early-Season Soil Waterlogging Using Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Practices and Corn Hybrids

Gurpreet Kaur,Gurbir Singh,Peter P Motavalli,Kelly A Nelson

doi:10.3390/agronomy10030378

Gurpreet Kaur, Gurbir Singh + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10030378

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Abstract

Excessive rainfall occurring in the early spring season in the Midwestern United States result in waterlogged soils contributing to corn production losses. The objective of our study is to evaluate the impact of soil waterlogging [non-waterlogged or waterlogged for 7 days when corn was at V3 growth stage (corn plant having three fully developed leaves with collar visible)], different pre-plant nitrogen (N) fertilizer sources and post-waterlogging rescue N fertilizer on grain and silage yield of two commercially available corn hybrids with different flood tolerance. Pre-plant N fertilizer was applied at 168 kg N ha−1. Nitrogen sources were a non-treated control (CO), polymer coated urea (PCU), urea (NCU), and urea plus Instinct (NCU + NI). A post-waterlogging rescue N fertilizer was applied at V7 as 0 or 83 kg N ha−1 of urea plus N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) (NCU + UI). Waterlogging decreased grain and silage yields in different years; however, significant interactions were observed among treatments. Rescue N applications increased grain yields by 6–46% in non-waterlogged treatments, but not in waterlogged treatments. The PCU and NCU + NI increased grain yields compared to the CO. Pre-plant N sources showed no significant differences in grain yield, probably due to existing environmental conditions or incorporation of fertilizer. The N source, application method, and timing for post-waterlogging rescue N application and flood-tolerant corn hybrids needs further investigation in poorly-drained claypan soils prone to waterlogging under a changing climate.

Highlights

Climate change has affected crop production globally by increasing extremes in soil water availability comprising of both droughts and flooding/soil waterlogging in agricultural landscapes
Flooding was initiated for the waterlogged treatments in the month of June 2013 compared to May
When data were averaged over corn hybrids and pre-plant N fertilizer sources, rescue N applications increased grain yields by 6% compared to treatments not receiving rescue N, only in the non-waterlogged treatments in

Summary

Introduction

Climate change has affected crop production globally by increasing extremes in soil water availability comprising of both droughts and flooding/soil waterlogging in agricultural landscapes. The rate of occurrence of excessive precipitation events and numerous wet days has increased since the 1920–1930s resulting in greater frequency and magnitude of flooding [1]. In 12 Midwestern States, a 16.79 mm per decade increase in early season precipitation has resulted in wetter soil conditions from. In 1993, record-breaking heavy precipitation created saturated soils and increased stream flows that caused a major Mississippi River flood [1] resulting in nutrient (such as nitrate) runoff that contributed to the doubling of the Gulf’s “Dead Zone” and damages to crop production ($6–8 billion) [3,4]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessed that frequency of excessive precipitation episodes is expected to increase in the future due to climate change caused by potential increases in greenhouse gas emissions [6]

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