Testing Corn (Zea mays L.) Preseason Regional Nitrogen Recommendation Models in South Dakota

Abstract

The purpose of a N recommendation model is to maximize profitability and minimize the impacts of agriculture on the environment. To achieve this goal, reliable recommendations must be developed and systematically tested. The objective of this study was to evaluate and test regional N recommendation models from South Dakota, western Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska for their suitability to improve South Dakota N recommendations. Data used to test the models were collected between 2002 and 2004 at Aurora and between 2004 and 2006 at Beresford and Watertown in eastern South Dakota. In this experiment, corn was responsive to N fertilizer, soil organic matter was relatively high (>30 g kg–1), manure was not applied, and drought conditions were not observed. Root mean square errors and bias of the different regional models were determined. Results showed that: (i) all models were unique and produced different N recommendations; (ii) economically optimum N rates (EONR) were sensitive to changing fertilizer costs and corn selling prices; (ii) water had a large impact on yield and N use efficiency; (iv) yields at the EONR were highly correlated (r = 0.60–0.73, P < 0.01) to the yield difference between fertilized and unfertilized plots; and (v) a modified South Dakota N recommendation model can be used to predict the impact of synergistic relationships between N and water.