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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331572
Title: Topsoil depth effects on corn yield and nitrogen uptake efficiency

Author
item CONWAY, LANCE - University Of Missouri
item Yost, Matt
item Kitchen, Newell
item Sudduth, Kenneth - Ken
item BOARDMAN, DARA - Howard G Buffett Foundation

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2016
Publication Date: 8/9/2016
Citation: International Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) Conference, August 8-10, 2016, Boise, Idaho. Poster.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Decades of erosion on claypan soil fields under row crop production has led to varying topsoil thickness across fields of the Midwest, resulting in variable crop fertilizer requirements across landscapes. Determining how these crop needs, specifically nitrogen, vary across fields is crucial for getting the most from grower inputs. Research was conducted near Columbia, MO from 2009 to 2015 to determine whether topsoil thickness influenced corn nitrogen use. Results indicated that yield, nitrogen uptake, and economic return from nitrogen all positively increased with topsoil depth. These results show where large variations in topsoil depth exist, accounting for the variations could result in more efficient use of nitrogen fertilizers. This information will help producers in determining the most accurate amount of nitrogen fertilizer to apply at specific locations within a field.