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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #287384
Title: Separating nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation water application in an alternating furrow irrigation system for maize production

Author
item KUN, HAN - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University
item ZHOU, CHUNJU - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University
item LI, NA - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University
item SCHMIDT, JOHN - Pioneer Hi-Bred International
item Dell, Curtis
item WANG, LINQUAN - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University

Submitted to: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/7/2013
Publication Date: 8/13/2013
Citation: Kun, H., Zhou, C., Li, N., Schmidt, J.P., Dell, C.J., Wang, L. 2013. Separating nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation water application in an alternating furrow irrigation system for maize production. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 96:107-122.

Interpretive Summary: The efficient use of water and nitrogen represents a primary concern to agricultural production in northwest of China. An alternative alternating furrow irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer application system (AFINA) for corn production was compared to conventional irrigation and nitrogen application methods during a two year study. Use of AFINA increased both water and nitrogen use efficiency and reduced the amount of residual nitrogen in the soil after the growing season (lower nitrogen leaching potential). The practice has the potential to maximize crop yield, while reducing water and nitrogen inputs and lowering nitrogen losses to the environment.

Technical Abstract: The efficient use of water and nitrogen represents a primary concern to agricultural production in northwest of China. A two-year field experiment was conducted to assess and model the interactive effects between water and nitrogen (N) on maize (Zea mays L.) when grown with alternating furrow irrigation and N fertilizer application (AFINA). Irrigation water use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency in the AFINA treatments were generally greater than in the conventional irrigation and fertilization (CIF) treatments. Response surfaces indicated that maximum maize yields were obtained with 238 kg N/ha N fertilizer and 106 mm irrigation water in 2008 and 244 kg N/ha N fertilizer and 95 mm in 2009. When the predicted yields were highest (6384 kg/ha and 6549 kg/ha), water use efficiency, N uptake, apparent N recovery and physiological efficiency were greater in the AFINA treatment than the CIF treatment. Conversely, soil residual NO3-N decreased in the AFINA treatment compared to the CIF treatment. With AFINA, the combination of optimizing irrigation water and N fertilizer is expected to maximize yield, save irrigation water and reduce N leaching.