Nitrogen Source, Rate, and Application Method for No‐Tillage Corn

Abstract

Surface applying urea‐containing N fertilizers may result in greater N losses by volatilization of NH3 as urea hydrolyses than nonurea containing materials. The objective of this study was to evaluate the N efficiency of urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN), urea and urea‐urea phosphate (UUP) at 56, 112, 168, and 224 kg ha−1 N rates applied broadcast, surface banded, and injected for no‐till corn (Zea mays L.). Yield, ear‐leaf N concentration, and N uptake were used to estimate N availability. Broadcast ammonium nitrate (AN) and injected anhydrous ammonia (AA) were used as controls for evaluating N efficiency of urea‐containing N sources and their application methods. The method of applying the urea‐containing N sources has a significant effect on apparent N fertilizer availability. Injecting UAN and urea resulted in significantly higher yield, leaf N concentration, and N uptake when compared with broadcast and surface band application methods. Surface banding UAN at 168 and 224 kg ha−1 resulted in higher yields than urea or UUP. Yield, leaf N concentration and N uptake differences among the three urea‐containing N sources were not observed when broadcast applied. Broadcasting AN at 168 and 224 kg ha−1 resulted in higher yields than UAN, urea or UUP. Injecting the N sources resulted in higher yields when compared with broadcasting AN.

Use of Five Nitrogen Source and Placement Systems for Improved Nitrogen Management of Irrigated Corn

“…The advantage of band placement on corn yields at these sites is consistent with other results (Howard and Tyler, 1989;Lamond et al, 1991;Stecker et al, 1993). Stecker et al (1993) reported greater corn grain yield from knife-injected N of 4 to 20% compared with dribble and of 5 to 40% compared with broadcast in 4 yr of an 8-site-yr study.…”

Nitrogen Management in No-Tillage and Ridge-Tillage Systems Affects Short-Season Corn Grown on Claypan Soil

“…Since there was no rainfall in the week following fertilization in 1996 or 1998 and only 0.15 inch during 1997 to move the N fertilizer solution into the soil and minimize potential N losses, there was no obvious reason why yield differences, though minor, were sometimes greater with broadcast applications. Corn yield can be improved with subsurface placement of fertilizer N (1,8,16), but also, differences in N application methods can be small (2) as shown in our study.…”

“…Nitrogen management and tillage selection have the potential to impact short‐season corn production and quality. The importance of N management for full‐season corn has been shown in no‐tillage (6,8) and ridge‐tillage systems (1,21). Data are lacking, however, regarding N placement and rate for short‐season corn grown in ridge‐ and no‐tillage systems on claypan soils of the eastern Great Plains.…”

Influence of source, method of placement and simulated rainfall on the recovery of 15N-labelled fertilizers under zero tillage

“…Under CT, those losses are reduced by incorporating the surface-applied urea. In the United States of America, urea-containing fertilizers have been found less efficient than non-urea fertilizers under ZT (Bandel et al 1980;Touchton and Hargrove 1982;Howard and Tyler 1989). The availability of fertilizer N to crop under ZT can also be affected by soil-climatic zote, and the knowledge on the efficiency of urea compared to other haditional N sources is lacking in central Alberta.…”