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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206653
Title: Nitrogen use efficiency and yield effects using slow release nitrogen fertilizer in winter wheat and maize

Author
item CAHILL, SHERI - NC STATE UNIV
item OSMOND, DEANNA - NC STATE UNIV
item CROZIER, CARL - NC STATE UNIV
item Israel, Daniel
item WEISZ, RANDY - NC STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2006
Publication Date: 11/1/2006
Citation: Cahill, S., Osmond, D., Crozier, C., Israel, D.W., Weisz, R. 2006. Nitrogen use efficiency and yield effects using slow release nitrogen fertilizer in winter wheat and maize. American Society of Agronomy Abstracts. (Agron. Abstr. http://crops.cnfex.com/crops/2006am/techprogram/P20756.HTM.)

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The potential for improved fertilizer N use efficiency (NUE) and yield in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) was tested using a new, controlled release urea formaldehyde polymer (UFP) fertilizer. This polymer was compared with conventional aqueous urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) [(NH2)2CO–NH4NO3] fertilizer during a two-year field experiment in North Carolina from 2004 to 2006. The crops were grown on three soils: Candor (sandy, siliceous, thermic Grossarenic Kandiudult), Portsmouth (fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Umbraquults) and Cape Fear (fine, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Umbraquult). The sandy soil was irrigated as needed to avoid drought stress. Treatments were N source (UAN and UFP) and N rate (0, 42, 84, 126, 168, 210, 252 kg N ha-1 for maize and 0, 54, 84, 114, 144, 174, 204 kg N ha-1 for wheat) arranged as randomized complete blocks with four replications. The UAN and UFP were applied as a split application for wheat, while maize received UFP at planting and split UAN. Timing of the materials was determined either by label (UFP) or prior experimental experience (UAN). There was no apparent difference in grain yield, stover yield, or NUE between UAN and UFP during either year. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 20-cm and 20 to 40-cm depths from the control and highest N rate plots for each fertilizer type and crop at 2 and 6 wk after the last fertilization. Nitrate-N ranged from 1 to 8 mg kg-1. Until statistical analyses are performed, it is unclear whether there was a difference between UAN and UFP in yield, NUE or NO3-N in the soil profile. Since the cost of UFP is substantially greater than UAN and form did not affect yield, UFP was not economically viable.