Plant response to the management of fluid and solid N fertilizers applied to furrow-irrigated corn

Abstract

The use of fluid fertilizers has increased in recent years. Plant response to field management practices of fluid and solid N fertilizers in furrow-irrigated field studies has not been well-documented. This research studied the response of corn (Zea mays L.) to several field management practices of fluid and solid N fertilizers applied at several rates. Corn grown with sidedressed applications of the fluid fertilizers, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) and 18-0-0+7Ca, generally had higher grain yields, higher yield efficiencies, higher ear populations, larger seed size, more kernels per ear, and a higher ear leaf N concentration than corn grown with preplant broadcast treatments of urea, ammonium nitrate (AN), and UAN. In 1988, corn grown with 280 kg N ha⁻¹ of AN applied preplant broadcast had a lower grain yield, yield efficiency, kernels per ear, and ear leaf N concentration, while ear population and kernel size were unchanged, in comparison to split applications of UAN at 224 kg N ha⁻¹. In 1989, corn grown with three split applications of UAN at 280 kg N ha⁻¹ had a higher grain yield and produced more kernels per ear without affecting yield efficiency, ear population, kernel size, or ear leaf N concentration compared with treatments at the 224 kg N ha⁻¹ rate. Use of split, side-dressed N management practices in furrow-irrigated corn should eliminate the need to use excessive N rates while maintaining grain yields and other plant responses, resulting in more efficient N use than traditionally achieved.