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Evaluation of Nitrogen Sources and Application Methods for Nitrogen‐Rich Reference Plot Establishment in Corn
Author(s) -
Yu Huan,
Tremblay Nicolas,
Wang Zhijie,
Bélec Carl,
Yang Gaihe,
Grant Cynthia
Publication year - 2010
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/agronj2009.0102
Subject(s) - nitrogen , photosynthesis , urea , sowing , chemistry , ammonium nitrate , agronomy , ammonium , nitrate , zea mays , chlorophyll , environmental science , zoology , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Five different N sources were compared with null N treatment to evaluate their performance for N‐rich reference plot establishment in corn ( Zea mays L.). The sources, including calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), polymer‐coated urea (PCU) and environmentally smart nitrogen (ESN) in 2007 and 2008, and urea (URE), were broadcast or in‐soil banded at the rate of 225 kg N ha −1 A greenhouse trial was also conducted with N applied as CAN, URE, and ESN. Net photosynthesis rate (P N ) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fv/Fm or Fv′/Fm′) were measured to assess N sources effects on corn photosynthesis. Relative photosynthetic capacity (RPC) and relative chlorophyll fluorescence capacity (RCFC) were calculated to evaluate the performance of N sources in N‐rich reference plot establishment. There were no differences in the release pattern of N from different sources that could lead to differences in RPC and RCFC during the period when N status diagnosis is normally performed. Hence, all sources were equally effective to establish N‐rich reference plots in our experimental conditions. It was also found that growers have the flexibility to either broadcast N at sowing or to band N along the rows at a later time after corn emergence.