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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #347260
Title: Stover removal effects on continuous corn yield and nitrogen use efficiency under irrigation

Author
item Schmer, Marty
item Jin, Virginia
item SINDELAR, AARON - Monsanto Corporation
item FERGUSON, RICHARD - University Of Nebraska
item Wienhold, Brian

Submitted to: North Central Extension Industry Soil Fertility Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2017
Publication Date: 11/15/2017
Citation: Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L., Sindelar, A.J., Ferguson, R.B., Wienhold, B.J. 2017. Stover removal effects on continuous corn yield and nitrogen use efficiency under irrigation. North Central Extension Industry Soil Fertility Conference Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Corn (Zea mays L.) residue or stover is harvested as supplemental feed for livestock and is a primary feedstock for cellulosic biofuels. Limited information is available on corn residue removal effects on grain yield under different nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates, irrigation rates and amelioration practices to minimize soil carbon loss and soil erosion. A study on a silt loam in south, central Nebraska (2011-2016) evaluated potential interactions between stover removal (residue removal, no residue removal), irrigation rate (full, limited), fertilizer N management (112 lbs. N acre-1, 180 lbs. N acre-1), and amelioration practices (winter cover crop, manure, no amelioration practice) on continuous corn grain yield. Grain yields differed by N rate (P <0.0001) and residue removal (P = 0.0200). System N efficiency (SNE; grain N uptake/N rate x100) increased with amelioration treatments, increased under residue removal, and decreased with increased N rate (112 lbs. N acre-1 vs. 180 lbs. N acre-1). Amelioration practices to maintain soil organic carbon (SOC) and reduce soil erosion maintained grain yield with stover harvest.