Does the Nitrogen Rates, Methods and Times of Application Influences the Corn Nutrition and Yield?

Jéssica Vettorazzi,Salatiér Buzetti,Elisângela Dupas,Élcio Hiroyoshi Yano ,Fernando Shintate Galindo ,Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho

doi:10.5539/jas.v11n1p350

Abstract

Alternatives to reduce N losses in soil, increasing the nutrient utilization efficiency by the plant with increased grain yield are necessary for the adequate and sustainable management of this nutrient. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the use of N rates at different times and in different methods of application, evaluating the nutritional status and corn grain yield in the Cerrado (Savannah) region. The study was conducted in Selv&iacute;ria - MS, Brazil, in an Oxisol. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replicates, arranged in a factorial scheme 6 &times; 2 &times; 2, being: 6 rates of N (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 kg ha-1), 2 times of application (at seeding or top-dressing) and 2 methods of application (surface or incorporated) with the urea source. The evaluations that were performed: leaf chlorophyll index (LCI), macro and micronutrients concentrations in leaf tissue (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn), and corn grain yield. The N supply at sowing time provided higher levels of K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn in leaf tissue, while nitrogen fertilization at the V4 stage provided greater LCI. The incorporation of urea into the soil provided higher LCI and N, P and K foliar contents. The increase of N doses influenced positively the LCI, N, P, S, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn foliar contents, and increased corn grain yield up to the dose of 164 kg ha-1 of N. The urea application to the surface is more interesting to the incorporated application due to the ease of application, cost, besides propitiating similar corn grain yield.

Highlights

IntroductionDespite the technological advances available, the average Brazilian productivity is still very low, around 5,401 kg ha-1 (CONAB, 2017), which demonstrates the need to seek management techniques to obtain increased grain yield and, to guarantee profits to the producer (Galindo et al, 2016)
Corn is one of the oldest and most widespread crops in the world
The management of nitrogen fertilization is performed in order to ensure high productivity and depending on the N dynamics on soils, high N rates are added, which burdens the cost of production of farmers (Teixeira Filho et al, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Despite the technological advances available, the average Brazilian productivity is still very low, around 5,401 kg ha-1 (CONAB, 2017), which demonstrates the need to seek management techniques to obtain increased grain yield and, to guarantee profits to the producer (Galindo et al, 2016). In order to obtain high corn grain yield it is necessary to apply high rates of nitrogen (N), as the soils do not usually supply the crop demand along its cycle (Galindo et al, 2017). Corn and rice crops consume approximately 60% of the total nitrogen fertilizer produced in the world (Espíndula et al, 2014). The management of nitrogen fertilization is performed in order to ensure high productivity and depending on the N dynamics on soils, high N rates are added, which burdens the cost of production of farmers (Teixeira Filho et al, 2014)

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion