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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308776
Title: Yield response to landscape position under variable N for irrigated corn

Author
item Schmer, Marty
item SHAVER, TIM - University Of Nebraska
item FERGUSON, RICHARD - University Of Nebraska
item Wienhold, Brian

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Variable nutrient and water supply can result in spatial and temporal variation in crop yield within a given agricultural field. For the western Corn Belt, irrigated corn accounts for 58% of total annual corn production with the majority grown in Nebraska. Although irrigation decreases temporal yield variation, significant spatial variability can exist within irrigated fields for a given year. Objectives were to understand how soil properties and field topography data relate to spatial variation in irrigated corn fields under variable N rates. Two on-farm study sites located in Hamilton County, NE and Keith County, NE were used to determine landscape position effects on corn yield under variable N rates. Nitrogen plots (6-m x 15-m) were replicated across fields consisting of 0, 84, 168, 224, and 280 kg N/ha. Fertilization occurred at or near the V4 growth stage using a high clearance sprayer. Grain yield was determined by hand-harvesting two adjacent rows (3-m length each) at physiological maturity. Landscape position features (summit, shoulder, backslope, footslope, and toeslope) were derived from publically available 2-m resolution digital elevation models (Hamilton Co.) and real-time kinetic elevation data (Keith Co.). Apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) was measured at both locations prior to planting. A corn yield response model will be developed based on soil and landscape position properties and evaluated to access the potential for use as site-specific management units related to N management.