A new perspective when examining maize fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency, incrementally

Authors

Newell R. Kitchen, USDA, Agricultural Research ServiceFollow
Curtis J. Ransom, USDA ARS, Columbia, MOFollow
James S. Schepers, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Jerry L. Hatfield, USDA ARS, Ames, IA
Raymond Massey, University of MissouriFollow
Scott T. Drummond, Corteva Agrisciences, Johnston, Iowa

ORCID IDs

Newell R. Kitchen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2268-9016

Curtis J. Ransom https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1268-7247

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2022

Citation

Kitchen NR, Ransom CJ, Schepers JS, Hatfield JL, Massey R, Drummond ST (2022) A new perspective when examining maize fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency, incrementally. PLoS ONE 17(5): e0267215.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0267215

Comments

The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.

Abstract

For maize (Zea mays L.), nitrogen (N) fertilizer use is often summarized from field to global scales using average N use efficiency (NUE). But expressing NUE as averages is misleading because grain increase to added N diminishes near optimal yield. Thus, environmental risks increase as economic benefits decrease. Here, we use empirical datasets obtained in North America of maize grain yield response to N fertilizer (n = 189) to create and interpret incremental NUE (iNUE), or the change in NUE with change in N fertilization. We show for those last units of N applied to reach economic optimal N rate (EONR) iNUE for N removed with the grain is only about 6%. Conversely stated, for those last units of N applied over 90% is either lost to the environment during the growing season, remains as inorganic soil N that too may be lost after the growing season, or has been captured within maize stover and roots or soil organic matter pools. Results also showed iNUE decrease averaged 0.63% for medium-textured soils and 0.37% for fine-textured soils, attributable to fine-textured soils being more predisposed to denitrification and/or lower mineralization. Further analysis demonstrated the critical nature growing season water amount and distribution has on iNUE. Conditions with too much rainfall and/or uneven rainfall produced low iNUE. Producers realize this from experience, and it is uncertain weather that largely drives insurance fertilizer additions. Nitrogen fertilization creating low iNUE is environmentally problematic. Our results show that with modest sub-EONR fertilization and minor forgone profit, average NUE improvements of ~10% can be realized. Further, examining iNUE creates unique perspective and ideas for how to improve N fertilizer management tools, educational programs, and public policies and regulations.