Irrigated and rain-fed maize response to different nitrogen fertilizer application methods

ABSTRACT

With the demand for maize increasing, production has spread into more water limited regions. Couple this with increasing resource costs and environmental concerns and the need for efficient nutrient and water management practices has increased. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of different nitrogen (N) fertilizer application methods and timings on maize grain yield, N use efficiency (NUE), and water use efficiency (WUE) under irrigated and rain-fed conditions. Four site-years of data were collected. Fertilizer treatments consisted of all N applied preplant, split surface applied, and split foliarly applied. Irrigation applied prior to and during reproductive growth increased grain yield, NUE, and WUE compared to rain-fed treatments for all site-years. Split surface applied N fertilizer applications typically increased NUE, but not always grain yield compared to preplant applications. The use of split foliar N fertilizer applications was only beneficial in the site-years when leaf burn was not as severe.

KEYWORDS:

• Maize
• nitrogen
• sidedress
• foliar
• irrigation

Acknowledgments

The mention of any trademarked products or equipment utilized in this experiment was for research purposes only and does not act as an endorsement by Oklahoma State University. The authors and Oklahoma State University have no direct financial relation with any of the named manufacturers, thus the authors declare there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Oklahoma Soil Fertility Research and Education Advisory Board for their funding of this research project and their continued financial support of soil fertility research at Oklahoma State University.