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Estimation of Yield and Nitrogen Removal by Corn
Author(s) -
Overman Allen R.,
Wilson Denise M.,
Kamprath Eugene J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1994.00021962008600060015x
Subject(s) - dry matter , bushel , yield (engineering) , logistic function , agronomy , mathematics , soil water , nitrogen , acre , environmental science , chemistry , soil science , statistics , biology , physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
A wide variety of mathematical models have been used to relate crop production to management factors such as applied N and water availability. These include power functions and exponential functions. The objective of this analysis was to use an extended logistic model to relate dry matter yields and plant N removal to applied N for corn ( Zea mays L.) for three soils in North Carolina. In this model, response of both dry matter yield and plant N removal to applied N were described by logistic equations. Plant N concentration was then related to applied N by the ratio of these logistic equations. Model parameters were estimated by nonlinear regression. Analysis of variance showed that the N response coefficient c was common for dry matter yield and plant N removal for each soil. Overall correlation coefficients of yield and plant N removal with applied N were very high for all three soils ( R > 0.99). It was shown that ≈50% of the total dry matter and 80% of total plant N were contained in the grain at all applied N levels. Maximum potential grain yield of 25.9 Mg ha −1 agreed closely with an estimate in the literature of 26.5 Mg ha −1 (500 bushels acre −1 ). Dependence of plant N concentration on plant N removal was shown to follow a linear relationship. The present model provides a rational basis for coupling of dry matter yield and plant N removal in response to applied N. It can be used in design and management decisions related to agricultural production and environmental quality.