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Title: RESPONSE OF IRRIGATED CORN TO NITROGEN FERTILITY LEVEL WITHIN TWO TILLAGE SYSTEMS

Author
item Halvorson, Ardell
item Bausch, Walter
item Duke, Harold
item Reule, Curtis

Submitted to: Proceedings of Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2002
Publication Date: 3/5/2002
Citation: Halvorson, A.D., Bausch, W.C., Duke, H.R., Reule, C.A. 2002. Response of irrigated corn to nitrogen fertility level within two tillage systems. Proceedings of Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference. Kansas State University, Manhattan and Potash and Phosphate Institute, Brookings, SD. 9:132-137.

Interpretive Summary: Irrigated farmers frequently utilize intensive mechanical tillage to manage crop residues and prepare a seedbed for corn. Nitrogen fertilizer management practices have been developed for conventional-till (CT) irrigated corn production, however, little information is available for no-till (NT) and reduced-till (RT) irrigated corn production systems. This sresearch compared the response of irrigated continuous corn to N fertility level under CT and NT or RT production systems on a Fort Collins clay loam soil from 1999 through 2001. Grain yields increased similarly with increasing available N level [soil NO3-N (0-3 ft) plus fertilizer N added] in 1999, 2000, and 2001 for both tillage systems. The CT corn yields were greater than the RT or NT corn yields in 1999 and 2001, respectively. Based on the results from this study, similar N levels were required for optimum corn yields in all tillage systems. Additional years of data are needed to determine if NT will require a higher level of N fertilizer inpu than CT to optimize corn grain yields. Current N fertilizer recommendations for CT irrigated corn production would appear to be adequate for irrigated NT corn production.

Technical Abstract: Irrigated farmers generally utilize intensive tillage to manage crop residues and prepare a seedbed for corn. Nitrogen fertilizer management practices have been developed for conventional-till (CT) irrigated corn production. Little information is available for no-till (NT) and reduced-t RT) irrigated corn production systems. This paper compares the response of irrigated continuous corn to N fertility level under CT and NT or RT production systems on a Fort Collins clay loam soil from 1999 through 2001. Grain yields increased similarly with increasing available N level [soil NO3-N (0-3 ft) plus fertilizer N added] in 1999, 2000, and 2001 for both tillage systems. The CT corn yields were greater than the RT or NT corn yields in 1999 and 2001, respectively. Based on the results from this study, similar N levels were required for optimum corn yields in all tillage systems. Additional years of data are needed to determine if NT will require a higher level of N fertilizer input than CT to optimize corn grain yields. Current N fertilizer recommendations for CT irrigated corn production would appear to be adequate for irrigated NT corn production.