Weather and soil in the US Midwest influence the effectiveness of single- and split-nitrogen applications in corn production

Authors

Jason D. Clark, South Dakota State UniversityFollow
Fabián G. Fernández, University of Minnesota- St. Paul
James J. Camberato, Purdue University
Paul R. Carter, Agronomist (retired)
Richard B. Ferguson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
David W. Franzen, North Dakota State University
Newell R. Kitchen, USDA, Agricultural Research ServiceFollow
Carrie A. M. Laboski, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Emerson Nafziger, University of IllinoisFollow
John E. Sawyer, Iowa State University
John F. Shanahan, Fortigen, Lincoln

ORCID IDs

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7793-6411

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6677-854X

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4862-8086

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6578-1624

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Agronomy Journal 2020; 112:5288-5299

DOI: 10.1002/agj2.20446

Comments

2020 The Authors.

Abstract

Splitting the N application into two or more timings may improve corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield and N recovery relative to a single-N application. A 49 site-year study across eight U.S. Midwestern states compared the effect of an at-planting (single-N application) and two split-N applications [45 (45+SD) or 90 kg N ha−1 (90+SD) at planting with the remainder of the total rate (180 or 270 kg N ha−1) applied at V9]. For split-N applications, soil and plant responses were similar between 45+SD and 90+SD 93–98% of the time, indicating the at-planting N rate of 45 kg N ha−1 may be all that is needed in most cropping scenarios. Splitting the N application compared to a single-N application changed soil NO3–N at VT and post-harvest <35% of the time and plant N uptake and grain yield <15% of the time. Split-N applications had greater grain yield in areas with uniform precipitation around the sidedress timing (Shannon Diversity Index >0.56–0.59) to incorporate N in the root zone, and in coarse-textured soil (sand content >4–10%) that had greater potential for N loss. Single-N applica- tions produced greater grain yield in soils with more total N (>2.1–2.4 g kg−1) to sup- port N mineralization and greater cation exchange capacity (CEC) (> 27–31 cmolc kg−1), silt content (>66–74%), or clay content (>24–37%) to improve nutrient and water retention. Decisions on nitrogen application timing should be made based on soil parameters and typical weather conditions around the sidedress timing.