Title: Tillage and Rotation Effects on Corn Yield Response to Fertilizer Nitrogen on Aqualf Soils
Abstract: Abstract Fertilizer N recommendations are often increased for no‐till corn ( Zea mays L.) relative to conventionally tilled corn. A comparison of relative yield responses to fertilizer N is lacking for continuous corn and corn following soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] when grown with conventional and no‐tillage systems on poorly drained claypan soils. Field studies spanning 5 site‐years were conducted on somewhat poorly (Udollic Ochraqualf) and poorly (Mollic Albaqualf) drained claypan soils in central and northeast Missouri. The experimental design was a split‐split plot, where whole plots were tillage system (chisel‐disk and no‐till) and subplots were rotation (continuous corn and corn following soybean). Subsubplots were N rates of 0, 67, 135, 202, and 269 kg ha −1 , applied preplant as either anhydrous NH 3 (82‐0‐0 N‐P‐K) or knife‐injected urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution (32‐0‐0). Corn grain yield response to fertilizer N was described by quadratic and quadraticplateau models that had similar R 2 values. With continuous corn, both models predicted no‐till to require 14 to 17 kg ha −1 (5–7%) less fertilizer N for maximum yield and profit than the chisel‐disk system. The predicted maximum no‐till grain yield was 0.34 Mg ha −1 less than the chisel‐disk system. No‐till corn following soybean required an average additional 17 kg N ha −1 (8%) for maximum yield (quadratic model) and 45 kg N ha −1 (35%) for maximum profit (quadratic‐plateau) than the chisel‐disk system. The average maximum yield for no‐till corn following soybean was 0.20 Mg ha −1 less than the chisel‐disk system. Apparent N credit for corn following soybean varied from 0 to 159 kg ha −1 . With the quadratic model, the average N credit was 54 kg ha −1 for the chisel‐disk system and 24 kg ha −1 for no‐till. Decreased no‐till corn yields that required equal or greater fertilizer N indicate at least a short‐term economic disadvantage for this tillage system on these poorly drained soils.
Publication Year: 1995
Publication Date: 1995-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 41
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