Long-term Optimum Nitrogen Rate for Corn Yield and Soil Organic Matter

IPNI-2008-CAN-ON29

23 Feb 2012

2011 Annual Interpretive Summary


Decisions on optimum N rates are often made on the basis of single-year responses. Data are limited on the long-term impact on productivity and soil organic matter of rates higher or lower than these short-term optima. This controlled experiment was designed as a base for testing the application of dynamic soil-crop-atmosphere models as predictors of N rates for corn that optimize sustainability. The specific objectives include: 1) assessment of short and long-term effects of N rate and application timing on productivity, environmental impact, profitability, and cropping system sustainability; and 2) validation of crop models, such as Hybrid-Maize.

The 2009 growing season was the first in which treatments were applied. Economically optimum rates of N were 15% higher than recommended for the pre-plant application, and 32% higher than recommended for the side-dress application, possibly because of a relatively cool, wet, and long growing season. Corn grain N concentration was 0.60 to 0.66 lb/bu at rates of N sufficient for maximum economic yield. Residual soil nitrate increased sharply when N rates exceeded the economic optimum, and were higher for side-dress than for pre-plant N applications. Favorable growing conditions in 2010 resulted in high yields, 195 bu/A at an optimum N rate of 190 lb/A, more than 50% higher than recommended. At this optimum rate, partial N balance (PNB) was 63% and recovery efficiency (RE) of N was 54%. Neither application timing nor duration of N treatment produced significant differences in optimum rate. Soil residual nitrate-N at harvest was about 10 lb/A higher at the optimum rate compared to the recommended rate, but was not affected by application timing or duration of treatment.

In 2011, yields were 175 and 171 bu/A for at-plant and sidedress N applications, respectively. Corresponding optimum N rates were 185 and 162 lb/A, again well above currently recommended rates. Responses to N did not differ between long-term and short-term rates. Recovery efficiencies of applied N ranged from 56% to 61%. Soil nitrate levels at corn maturity did not differ among any treatments.

This project also receives support from the Ontario Agri Business Association, for sampling soil residual nitrate and soil organic carbon, and from the Canadian Fertilizer Institute, for measuring nitrous oxide emissions. This additional support enables a more complete assessment of sustainability. ON-29