Abstract
Claypan soils have a high potential for N loss, which can lower corn (Zea mays L.) yields. Field research was conducted from 2011 to 2013 in Northeast Missouri to determine corn yield, plant population, and grain quality response to N application timings (fall vs. spring) and five N sources/placements at two different N rates (84 and 168 kg·N·ha−1) on a poorly drained claypan soil. The five N source/placement systems were no-till (NT)/surface broadcast urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) (Surface UAN) or strip-till (ST)/deep banded UAN (deep UAN), NT/surface broadcast UAN plus Nitamin Nfusion (surface NF) or ST/deep banded UAN plus Nitamin Nfusion (deep NF), and ST/deep banded anhydrous ammonia (AA) (deep AA). The field trial was a split-plot randomized complete block design with four replications. Deep UAN with a fall N application produced the highest grain yield (8.12 to 9.12 Mg·ha−1) at 84 and 168 kg·N·ha−1, but it was less effective with a spring application in 2011. Fall deep AA produced the lowest grain yields (5.97 and 6.8 Mg·ha−1) in 2013 at 84 and 168 kg·N·ha−1 potentially due to wet soil conditions at the time of application. Warmer and wetter soil conditions during April-May of 2013 resulted in relatively higher grain yields compared to cooler and drier soil conditions in 2011 with all spring-applied N source/placement treatments. Extreme drought in the 2012 growing season resulted in poor corn growth. Farmers may need to consider fall N applications on claypan soils because spring N application might be riskier since corn grain yield was generally greater than or equal to spring-applied treatments.
Highlights
Nitrogen (N) management is a crucial and challenging component of sustainable corn production on poorly drained claypan soils
Corn production is even more difficult to manage due to these soils’ relatively poor drainage characteristics, which contribute to a higher potential for N loss and subsequently lower crop yields as well as the propensity to drought
The data were variable across N timings, N sources/placements, and year, this range of climatic conditions can be expected in the US corn belt region
Summary
Nitrogen (N) management is a crucial and challenging component of sustainable corn production on poorly drained claypan soils. E poor drainage properties of claypan soils can affect crop management decisions and reduce grain yields [3]. One proposed N management strategy for improving N utilization by crop plants and minimizing N loss is termed the “4R” strategy (i.e., right source, right rate, right time, and right place) [4]. For this strategy, N fertilizer timing, source, placement, or application rate are viewed as controllable factors that can improve corn yields in a poorly drained claypan soil. Unpredictable weather conditions, including the distribution of precipitation and temperature, are uncontrollable factors that may cause the greatest impact on N use efficiency and yield
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