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Sensor‐based Nitrogen Fertilization for Midseason Rice Production in Southeast Missouri
Author(s) -
Foster Anserd,
Atwell Sam,
Dunn David
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
crop, forage and turfgrass management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.29
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2374-3832
DOI - 10.2134/cftm2017.01.0005
Subject(s) - acre , fertilizer , yield (engineering) , nitrogen , mathematics , agronomy , zoology , environmental science , biology , chemistry , materials science , metallurgy , organic chemistry
Core Ideas Sensor‐based N management used with a nitrogen‐rich strip was a very effective decision support tool for midseason N management. Sensor‐based N management provided opportunity to take advantage of year‐to‐year environmental variation. Sensor‐based N management approach reduced the amount of total N applied without any yield penalty compared with the traditional practice.Sensor‐based nitrogen (N) decision management tools have shown potential to improve N fertilizer efficiency, yield, and profitability. Small‐plot experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of sensor‐based management in guiding midseason N application decisions. Treatments were two rice ( Oryza sativa L.) cultivars (Jupiter, a medium grain, and Roy J, a long grain) and eight N treatments: (i) check (no N fertilizer); (ii) 60 lb N/acre applied preflood + midseason N applied based on sensor reading (sensor‐based management); (iii) 90 lb N/acre applied preflood + midseason N applied based on sensor reading (sensor‐based management); (iv) 120 lb N/acre applied preflood; (v) 120 lb N/acre applied preflood + 30 lb N/acre applied at midseason (traditional practice); (vi) 120 lb N/acre applied preflood + midseason N applied based on sensor reading (sensor‐based management); (vii) 150 lb N/acre applied preflood; and (viii) 180 lb N/acre applied preflood (N reference strip). Grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) were compared among N treatments. Results showed sensor‐based management for midseason application recommended lower total N application rate by 15 to 90 lb N/acre over the traditional practice. These results indicate that N fertilization made by a sensor‐based midseason recommendation can optimize yield and NUE in southeast Missouri.