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Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Irrigated No‐Till Corn Production and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen
Author(s) -
Halvorson Ardell D.,
Jantalia Claudia Pozzi
Publication year - 2011
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/agronj2011.0102
Subject(s) - stover , loam , soil carbon , human fertilization , agronomy , stalk , nitrogen , zoology , chemistry , corn stover , soil water , field experiment , environmental science , biology , horticulture , soil science , biochemistry , hydrolysis , organic chemistry
Converting to no‐till (NT) production can affect N requirements for optimizing corn ( Zea mays L.) yields while enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) and N levels. Nitrogen fertilization impacts on irrigated, NT continuous‐corn grain, stalk, cob, and stover yields, stover C and N uptake, and C/N ratios were evaluated for 11 yr on a clay loam soil. Changes in SOC and total soil nitrogen (TSN) were also monitored. Grain, stalk, cob, and stover yields increased with increasing N rate, as did N and C uptake. The C/N ratio of stalk residue declined with increasing N rate, but cob C/N ratio was not affected, with an average stover C/N ratio of 68 at the highest N rate. Nitrogen fertilization increased SOC and TSN levels with average SOC and TSN mass rate gains with N application of 0.388, 0.321, and 0.160 Mg SOC ha −1 yr −1 and 0.063, 0.091, and 0.140 Mg TSN ha −1 yr −1 in the 0‐ to 7.6‐, 0‐ to 15.2‐, and 0‐ to 30.4‐cm soil depths, respectively. The SOC and TSN mass rate changes were lower without N application. Increases in TSN appeared to be more rapid than SOC, resulting in a decline in the soil C/N ratio with time. Under irrigated, NT continuous corn production, N fertilization optimized grain and residue yields, with the enhanced benefit of increased SOC and TSN levels in the semiarid central Great Plains. Removal of cobs or partial stover residue as a cellulosic feedstock for ethanol production appears possible without negative effects on soil quality under irrigated, NT corn production.