The effects of nitrogen fertilizer rates, variety and maturity on the dry matter yield and the amounts of total N, ethanol insoluble N and ethanol soluble forms of N (nitrate, free ammonium, amide and α‐amino acid) in three single cross corn varieties harvested for silage at early and late dent maturity were investigated on a sandy loam soil in northwest Wisconsin. Nitrogen was applied at 100, 200, and 300 kg/ha rates. Irrigated and non‐irrigated treatments were used, with these treatments having plant populations of 64,200 and 44,600 plants/ha, respectively. Considerable difference existed among varieties with respect to dry matter yield and content of the various N fractions. Nitrate N and total ethanol soluble N increased markedly at the fertilizer N rates beyond that required for maximum dry matter production. Harvesting at late dent maturity resulted in higher dry matter and protein yields and lower nitrate N and total soluble N levels. The results of this investigation indicate that application of excess amounts of fertilizer N to corn should be avoided to minimize accumulation of delterious soluble N compounds in silage corn.
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