Evaluating Nitrogen Management for Corn Production with Supplemental Irrigation on Sandy Soils of the Southeastern Coastal Plain Region of the U.S.

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 731-740
Author(s):  
Dagbegnon Clement Sohoulande Djebou ◽  
Liwang Ma ◽  
Ariel A. Szogi ◽  
Gilbert C. Sigua ◽  
Kenneth C. Stone ◽  
...  

Highlights This study addressed the inclusion of field-scale soil variability in nitrogen (N) management for corn production. RZWQM2 was calibrated for corn yield and N dynamics on four sandy soil series under supplemental irrigation. Multi-year simulations of corn production under high and low N application rates were analyzed. Results showed room to reduce N use and N leaching without affecting corn production on Coastal Plain sandy soils. Abstract. Nitrogen (N) fertilization contributes significantly to maintain high yields in corn (Zea mays L.) production. In the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the U.S. where soils are sandy with poor water and nutrient holding capacity, a fraction of the N applied to corn fields is often leached from the root zone and becomes unavailable to plants. As these soils belong to various taxonomic classes, research has shown significant corn yield differences among soil series. However, few studies have focused on integrating field-scale soil variability, N leaching, and corn production. To address this knowledge gap, this study used the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) to simulate different N management scenarios in corn production for four sandy soil series under supplemental irrigation. The calibrated model was used to simulate nine consecutive years of corn production under four N management scenarios, including two high rates of N application (rate A = 224 kg N ha-1 with 25 kg N ha-1 at preplant; rate A' = 224 kg N ha-1 without preplant N), and two low rates of N application (rate B = 157 kg N ha-1 with 25 kg N ha-1 at preplant; rate B' = 157 kg N ha-1 without preplant N). Simulation results showed that without preplant N application, N leaching was reduced by up to 17% with no significant impact on corn yield, depending on the soil series. Hence, consideration of field-scale soil variability could help improve N management by reducing N use and N leaching without impacting corn production. Keywords: Corn yield components, Growing season, Modeling, Nitrogen dynamics, RZWQM2, Soil variability.

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 731-740
Author(s):  
Dagbegnon Clement Sohoulande Djebou ◽  
Liwang Ma ◽  
Ariel A. Szogi ◽  
Gilbert C. Sigua ◽  
Kenneth C. Stone ◽  
...  

Highlights This study addressed the inclusion of field-scale soil variability in nitrogen (N) management for corn production. RZWQM2 was calibrated for corn yield and N dynamics on four sandy soil series under supplemental irrigation. Multi-year simulations of corn production under high and low N application rates were analyzed. Results showed room to reduce N use and N leaching without affecting corn production on Coastal Plain sandy soils. Abstract. Nitrogen (N) fertilization contributes significantly to maintain high yields in corn (Zea mays L.) production. In the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the U.S. where soils are sandy with poor water and nutrient holding capacity, a fraction of the N applied to corn fields is often leached from the root zone and becomes unavailable to plants. As these soils belong to various taxonomic classes, research has shown significant corn yield differences among soil series. However, few studies have focused on integrating field-scale soil variability, N leaching, and corn production. To address this knowledge gap, this study used the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) to simulate different N management scenarios in corn production for four sandy soil series under supplemental irrigation. The calibrated model was used to simulate nine consecutive years of corn production under four N management scenarios, including two high rates of N application (rate A = 224 kg N ha-1 with 25 kg N ha-1 at preplant; rate A' = 224 kg N ha-1 without preplant N), and two low rates of N application (rate B = 157 kg N ha-1 with 25 kg N ha-1 at preplant; rate B' = 157 kg N ha-1 without preplant N). Simulation results showed that without preplant N application, N leaching was reduced by up to 17% with no significant impact on corn yield, depending on the soil series. Hence, consideration of field-scale soil variability could help improve N management by reducing N use and N leaching without impacting corn production. Keywords: Corn yield components, Growing season, Modeling, Nitrogen dynamics, RZWQM2, Soil variability.


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 731-740
Author(s):  
Dagbegnon Clement Sohoulande Djebou ◽  
Liwang Ma ◽  
Ariel A. Szogi ◽  
Gilbert C. Sigua ◽  
Kenneth C. Stone ◽  
...  

Highlights This study addressed the inclusion of field-scale soil variability in nitrogen (N) management for corn production. RZWQM2 was calibrated for corn yield and N dynamics on four sandy soil series under supplemental irrigation. Multi-year simulations of corn production under high and low N application rates were analyzed. Results showed room to reduce N use and N leaching without affecting corn production on Coastal Plain sandy soils. Abstract. Nitrogen (N) fertilization contributes significantly to maintain high yields in corn (Zea mays L.) production. In the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the U.S. where soils are sandy with poor water and nutrient holding capacity, a fraction of the N applied to corn fields is often leached from the root zone and becomes unavailable to plants. As these soils belong to various taxonomic classes, research has shown significant corn yield differences among soil series. However, few studies have focused on integrating field-scale soil variability, N leaching, and corn production. To address this knowledge gap, this study used the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) to simulate different N management scenarios in corn production for four sandy soil series under supplemental irrigation. The calibrated model was used to simulate nine consecutive years of corn production under four N management scenarios, including two high rates of N application (rate A = 224 kg N ha-1 with 25 kg N ha-1 at preplant; rate A' = 224 kg N ha-1 without preplant N), and two low rates of N application (rate B = 157 kg N ha-1 with 25 kg N ha-1 at preplant; rate B' = 157 kg N ha-1 without preplant N). Simulation results showed that without preplant N application, N leaching was reduced by up to 17% with no significant impact on corn yield, depending on the soil series. Hence, consideration of field-scale soil variability could help improve N management by reducing N use and N leaching without impacting corn production. Keywords: Corn yield components, Growing season, Modeling, Nitrogen dynamics, RZWQM2, Soil variability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 994
Author(s):  
Chunlian Qiao ◽  
Shamim Mia ◽  
Yeqin Wang ◽  
Jiajia Hou ◽  
Burenbayin Xu

The effects of nitrification inhibitor in tea gardens with different urea–N rates have rarely been assessed. For eight months, a glasshouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of a nitrification inhibitor (3, 4–dimethylpyrazole phosphate, DMPP) on the changes of soil pH and inorganic N loss. Urea (0, 300, 500, and 800 kg N ha−1) with or without DMPP (1% of urea–N applied) were added to pots that hosted six plants that were three years old. Next, three leaching events were conducted with 600 mL of water after 7, 35, and 71 days of intervention while soil samples were collected to determine pH and inorganic N. Averaged across sampling dates, urea–N application at an increasing rate reduced soil pH with the lowest values at 800 kg urea–N ha−1. Adding DMPP increased soil pH up to a rate of 500 kg ha−1. Irrespective of the addition of DMPP, gradient urea–N application increased the leaching loss of inorganic N. On overage, DMPP increased soil pH and decreased leaching losses of total inorganic N, suggesting a higher soil N retention. Therefore, we believe that this increase in soil pH is associated with a relatively lower proton release from the reduced nitrification in the DMPP–receiving pots. This nitrification reduction also contributed to the N loss reduction (NO3−–N). Altogether, our results suggest that DMPP can reduce N leaching loss while maintaining the pH of tea–cultivated soils. Therefore, DMPP application has a significant potential for the sustainable N management of tea gardens.


2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi J. Johnson ◽  
Jed B. Colquhoun ◽  
Alvin J. Bussan

There is significant interest from vegetable processors, growers, and consumers in organic sweet corn (Zea mays) production. Organic nitrogen (N) management is particularly challenging in high N consuming crops such as sweet corn because of the low N content and low N to phosphorus (P) ratios of organic soil amendments. Various management programs were compared to determine the optimal combination of soil amendments and green manure crops for organic sweet corn production. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), rye (Secale cereale), and field pea (Pisum sativum) were used as green manure crops. Composted poultry manure and a high N content organic fertilizer were used as organic amendments. Ammonium nitrate was used in a conventional management program for comparison. Treatments were designed to deliver a full rate of N (150 lb/acre), a half rate of N (75 lb/acre), and to limit the amount of P applied. Phosphorus can become a source of pollution when applied to erodible soils, particularly when soils already contain excessive P. Sweet corn yield in many of the organic programs was highly variable among years while the yield was more consistent in the conventional program. This was attributed to differences in organic N mineralization in both the green manure crops and the amendments. The most stable yield from an organic treatment, among years, was achieved using the commercially available organic N fertilizer. Commercially available amendments were costly, and although organic sweet corn received a premium price in years when organic yields were lower, profit was reduced by the high cost of N management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5010
Author(s):  
Kapila Shekhawat ◽  
Vinod K. Singh ◽  
Sanjay Singh Rathore ◽  
Rishi Raj ◽  
T. K. Das

The proven significance of conservation agriculture (CA) in enhancing agronomic productivity and resource use efficiency across diverse agro-ecologies is often challenged by weed interference and nitrogen (N) immobilization. The collective effect of real-time N and weed management has been scarcely studied. To evaluate the appropriateness of sensor-based N management in conjunction with a broad-spectrum weed control strategy for the maize–wheat system, an experiment was conducted at ICAR—Indian Agricultural Research Institute—in New Delhi, India, during 2015–2016 and 2016–2017. Weed management in maize through Sesbania brown manure followed by post-emergence application of 2,4-D (BM + 2,4-D) in maize and tank-mix clodinafop-propargyl (60 g ha−1) and carfentrazone (20 g ha−1) (Clodi+carfentra) in wheat resulted in minimum weed infestation in both crops. It also resulted in highest maize (5.92 and 6.08 t ha−1) and wheat grain yields (4.91 and 5.4 t ha−1) during 2015–2016 and 2016–2017, respectively. Half of the N requirement, when applied as basal and the rest as guided by Optical crop sensor, resulted in saving 56 and 59 kg N ha−1 in the maize–wheat system, respectively, over 100% N application as farmers’ fertilizer practice during the two consecutive years. Interactive effect of N and weed management on economic yield of maize and wheat was also significant and maximum yield was obtained with 50% N application as basal + rest as per Optical crop sensor and weed management through BM+2,4-D in maize and Clodi+carfentra in wheat crop. The study concludes that real-time N management, complemented with appropriate weed management, improved growth, enhanced agronomic productivity and endorsed N saving under a CA-based maize–wheat system in Trans Indo-Gangetic Plains.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 740
Author(s):  
Ken Okamoto ◽  
Shinkichi Goto ◽  
Toshihiko Anzai ◽  
Shotaro Ando

Fertilizer application during sugarcane cultivation is a main source of nitrogen (N) loads to groundwater on small islands in southwestern Japan. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of reducing the N fertilizer application rate on sugarcane yield, N leaching, and N balance. We conducted a sugarcane cultivation experiment with drainage lysimeters and different N application rates in three cropping seasons (three years). N loads were reduced by reducing the first N application rate in all cropping seasons. The sugarcane yields of the treatment to which the first N application was halved (T2 = 195 kg ha−1 N) were slightly lower than those of the conventional application (T1 = 230 kg ha−1 N) in the first and third seasons (T1 = 91 or 93 tons ha−1, T2 = 89 or 87 tons ha−1). N uptake in T1 and T2 was almost the same in seasons 1 (186–188 kg ha−1) and 3 (147–151 kg ha−1). Based on the responses of sugarcane yield and N uptake to fertilizer reduction in two of the three years, T2 is considered to represent a feasible fertilization practice for farmers. The reduction of the first N fertilizer application reduced the underground amounts of N loads (0–19 kg ha−1). However, application of 0 N in the first fertilization would lead to a substantial reduction in yield in all seasons. Reducing the amount of N in the first application (i.e., replacing T1 with T2) improved N recovery by 9.7–11.9% and reduced N leaching by 13 kg ha−1. These results suggest that halving the amount of N used in the first application can improve N fertilizer use efficiency and reduce N loss to groundwater.


Author(s):  
Fen Gao ◽  
Yuanhong Chen ◽  
SeaRa Lim ◽  
Allen Xue ◽  
Bao-Luo Ma

Effective nitrogen (N) management strategies are important for ensuring a balance between optimizing plant growth and minimizing disease damage. A field experiment was conducted for three years to (i) assess the effects of N fertilizer application on the growth and seed yield of canola, and severities of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), and (ii) determine a reasonable N-rate for optimizing plant growth and minimizing the loss from SSR in eastern Canada. The experiment was designed with factorial combinations of eight N treatments and two canola hybrids. All N-treatments reduced canola emergence with increasing preplant N application rates above 100 kg ha–1, but had a positive impact on plant height, fresh weight, dry weight and seed yield. The development of SSR showed differential responses to N application rates. Of all the treatments, the split application (50 kg N ha–1 at preplant plus 100 kg N ha–1 side-dressed at the 6-leaf stage) increased canola growth, and often produced the highest or similar seed yields to those of equivalent N rate applied as preplant. At the 150 kg ha–1 N rate, no severe development of SSR was observed in either preplant-only or split application. Overall, this study demonstrates that the split-N management strategy (50+100 kg ha–1) maintained a balance between enhancing plant growth and mitigating the negative impacts of SSR on canola.


2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 10-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Baker

The primary mode of nitrogen (N) loss from tile-drained row-cropped land is generally nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) leaching. Although cropping, tillage, and N management practices can be altered to reduce the amount of leaching, there are limits as to how much can be done. Data are given to illustrate the potential reductions for individual practices such as rate, method, and timing of N applications. However, most effects are multiplicative and not additive; thus it is probably not realistic to hope to get overall reductions greater than 25 to 30% with in-field practices alone. If this level of reduction is insufficient to meet water quality goals, additional off-site landscape modifications may be necessary.


2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 22-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kuo ◽  
B. Huang ◽  
R. Bembenek

Biculture of nonlegumes and legumes could serve as cover crops for increasing main crop yield, while reducing NO3leaching. This study, conducted from 1994 to 1999, determined the effect of monocultured cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and bicultured rye/vetch and ryegrass/vetch on N availability in soil, corn (Zea mays L.) yield, and NO3-N leaching in a silt loam soil. The field had been in corn and cover crop rotation since 1987. In addition to the cover crop treatments, there were four N fertilizer rates (0, 67, 134, and 201 kg N ha-1, referred to as N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively) applied to corn. The experiment was a randomized split-block design with three replications for each treatment. Lysimeters were installed in 1987 at 0.75 m below the soil surface for leachate collection for the N0, N2, and N3treatments. The result showed that vetch monoculture had the most influence on soil N availability and corn yield, followed by the bicultures. Rye or ryegrass monoculture had either no effect or an adverse effect on corn yield and soil N availability. Leachate NO3-N concentration was highest where vetch cover crop was planted regardless of N rates, which suggests that N mineralization of vetch N continued well into the fall and winter. Leachate NO3-N concentration increased with increasing N fertilizer rates and exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water standard of 10 mg N l�1 even at recommended N rate for corn in this region (coastal Pacific Northwest). In comparisons of the average NO3-N concentration during the period of high N leaching, monocultured rye and ryegrass or bicultured rye/vetch and ryegrass/vetch very effectively decreased N leaching in 1998 with dry fall weather. The amount of N available for leaching (determined based on the presidedress nitrate test, the amount of N fertilizer applied, and N uptake) correlated well with average NO3-N during the high N leaching period for vetch cover crop treatment and for the control without the cover crops. The correlation, however, failed for other cover crops largely because of variable effectiveness of the cover crops in reducing NO3leaching during the 5 years of this study. Further research is needed to determine if relay cover crops planted into standing summer crops is a more appropriate approach than fall seeding in this region to gain sufficient growth of the cover crop by fall. Testing with other main crops that have earlier harvest dates than corn is also needed to further validate the effectiveness of the bicultures to increase soil N availability while protecting the water quality.


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