Premium
Corn Responses to Ammonium‐ and Nitrate‐Nitrogen Fertilization
Author(s) -
Barber K. L.,
Maddux L. D.,
Kissel D. E.,
Pierzynski G. M.,
Bock B. R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1992.03615995005600040027x
Subject(s) - nitrification , urea , chemistry , human fertilization , ammonium , nitrogen , agronomy , fertilizer , sowing , ammonia , zoology , yield (engineering) , ammoniacal nitrogen , biology , biochemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
Studies have indicated that, by maintaining relatively high solution culture or soil NH + 4 /NO ‐ 3 ratios during the reproductive growth stage, certain corn ( Zea mays L.) genotypes have a higher yield potential. Unfortunately, few data on soil NH + 4 and NO ‐ 3 levels have been reported. A 3‐yr field experiment was conducted in northeastern Kansas in 1987, 1988, and 1989 to evaluate the effects of time and form of applied N on fertilizer band NH + 4 /NO ‐ 3 ratios and on the N nutrition, dry‐matter accumulation, and grain yield of two corn hybrids. Urea, urea‐NH 4 NO 3 , urea plus Ca(NO 3 ) 2 , NH 4 NO 3 , and Ca(NO 3 ) 2 solutions having NH + 4 /NO ‐ 3 ratios of 1:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:1, and 0:1, respectively, were used at equivalent N rates. The nitrification inhibitors, nitrapyrin [2‐chloro‐6‐(trichloromethyl) pyridine] and dicyandiamide, as well as two‐way and three‐way timing of application schemes were used to maintain N as NH + 4 . Split applications of ammoniacal N with a nitrification inhibitor were effective in maintaining elevated soil NH + 4 concentrations from planting through early grain fill. In 1988 only, grain yield was increased slightly (3–9% higher) when corn was fertilized with ammoniacal N compared with NO ‐ 3 only. Overall, manipulation of soil NH + 4 /NO ‐ 3 ratios had few effects on corn development or yield.