Improvement of Maize and Soybean (Chickpea) Mineral Nutrition on a Calcareous Common Chernozem

The 2015 maize season in southern Russia was characterized by delayed planting because of cool, rainy weather conditions during the first half of May. Thus, a summer drought that typically begins in the second part of July and continues in August negatively affected pollination and grain filling of maize. Grower’s fertilizer practice and the Ecological Intensification (EI) management system were compared at the A-site. Two maize hybrids with differing days to maturity (i. e.

In this experiment, grower’s fertilizer practices were compared with the Ecological Intensification (EI) management system. Two different maize hybrids were grown in 2014 under these crop management systems with differing maturity dates (115 to 120 days versus 124 days). The 2014 season had normal weather conditions for maize and soybean production.

This project, initiated in 2011, witnessed the lowest precipitation of 15 mm in June 2013 at the A-site since initiation. Rainfall during July was only 24 mm. Such weather conditions had a negative effect on maize production. Grower’s fertilizer practice (GFP) and the Ecological Intensification (EI) management system for maize and soybean were compared at the A site. The GFP treatment 30-40 kg N-P/ha led to a maize yield of 4. 44 t/ha in 2013.

Limited rainfall patterns prevailed in the experimental area during July – August, 2012 had a negative effect on crop production. There was about 17% and 30 % yield reduction, respectively, in maize and soybean compared to the previous season. Maize at the A-site was grown after soybean harvested in 2011 in early October.

Maize was grown in 2011 after winter wheat at both the A-site and C-site. The potential yield was determined at the A-site, and thus the respective yield gap. We accessed what practices and inputs needed to be modified to narrow the yield gap. The current grower practice and the Ecological Intensification (EI) management system were compared for the site. On-farm experiments (C-site) were used to facilitate fine-tuning of the management systems and getting them in place on farmers’ fields.