Economic nitrogen rate for fertigation of green corn crop in the Brazilian semiarid

Ênio Gomes Flôr Souza,Ellen Abreu Da Cruz,Aurélio Paes Barros Júnior,Francisco Bezerra Neto,Rafaela Felix Da França,José Madson Da Silva

doi:10.1590/s1678-3921.pab2019.v54.00556

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this work was to determine the nitrogen rate for fertigation associated with the maximum productivity of green corn (Zea mays) with a lower production cost, in two harvest seasons in the Brazilian semiarid region. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates, and the treatments consisted of four N rates (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg ha-1) in form of urea, applied via drip irrigation. The used cultivar was the Bt Feroz hybrid. The evaluated characteristics were: number and mass of marketable ears, gross income, net income, and rate of return. The greatest amounts of marketable ears were reached with 152.52 kg ha-1 N in summer (41,183.84 ears per hectare) and 190.31 kg ha-1 N in winter (53,291.25 ears per hectare). In the two harvests, there was a variation in production costs between R$ 2,422.12 ha-1 and R$ 3,320.95 ha-1 without N and with 240 kg ha-1 N, respectively. The winter harvest showed higher productivity and profitability of green ears with fertigation with 160 kg ha-1 N. In the Brazilian semiarid, the maximum productivity of green corn with the lowest production cost is reached with fertigation with 90 kg ha-1 N, in both harvests.

Highlights

Green corn (Zea mays L.) is grown in all regions of Brazil and its production is an alternative for irrigated areas in the semiarid of the Northeast region of the country
Economic nitrogen rate for fertigation of green corn crop in the Brazilian semiarid Abstract – The objective of this work was to determine the nitrogen rate for fertigation associated with the maximum productivity of green corn (Zea mays) with a lower production cost, in two harvest seasons in the Brazilian semiarid region
It should be highlighted that these studies used manual or mechanical fertilization, showing that substituting them by fertigation would not reduce green corn yield

Summary

Introduction

Green corn (Zea mays L.) is grown in all regions of Brazil and its production is an alternative for irrigated areas in the semiarid of the Northeast region of the country. In order to be economically viable and meet the demand of the consumer market, satisfactory yields should be obtained and all factors of production should be at optimal levels. Among these factors, fertilization has an important role in soil fertility and corn mineral nutrition, especially in relation to nitrogen, the nutrient most required by the crop (Von Pinho et al, 2009; Freire et al, 2010). Published article on the application of fertilizers by water (fertigation) in green corn in Brazil were not found, many corn producers in the country’s semiarid already use this technique in drip-irrigation systems, seeking to reduce costs with labor, facilitate the splitting of rates, and increase the uniformity of distribution of fertilizers. The main recommendations are the application of 75 to 105 kg ha-1 N (Yuan et al, 2017), more frequent irrigations (lower water depths), and fertigation with rates between 30 and 40 kg ha-1 N per application (He et al, 2012)

Objectives

Methods

Results