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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410031
Research Project: Innovative Cropping System Solutions for Sustainable Production on Spatially Variable Landscapes

Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research

Title: Nitrogen biological additives in corn: Understanding the spatial response of Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40

Author
item Ransom, Curtis
item ROBERTON, STIRLING - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
item Sudduth, Kenneth - Ken
item Veum, Kristen
item KITCHEN, NEWELL - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2023
Publication Date: 10/29/2023
Citation: Ransom, C.J., Roberton, S., Sudduth, K.A., Veum, K.S., Kitchen, N. 2023. Nitrogen biological additives in corn: Understanding the spatial response of Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40 [abstract]. 2023 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, October 29-November 1, 2023, St. Louis, Missouri. Available: https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2023am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/153653

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Biologically fixed nitrogen is a promising solution to reducing synthetic fertilizer use while maintaining corn grain yields. Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40 is a commercially available product based on a diazotroph soil microbe that colonizes corn roots and supplies nitrogen fixed from the atmosphere directly to the crop. Previous studies have shown mixed results as to this product’s effectiveness at supplying enough nitrogen for it to be commercially viable. The aim of this research was to evaluate the spatial response of PROVEN® 40 across a corn field. Yield response was collected from strip trials conducted across a 35-hectare field. Results showed an increase in early season plant greenness which translated into an average of 405 kg ha-1 yield response. Using random forest models, the spatial variability observed throughout the field was most related to soil pH, the total nitrogen rate, soil organic carbon, and the type of cover crop. For the greatest return on investment, this product should be targeted to areas where the soil pH is close to 7 and where low nitrogen rates have been applied. It is also hypothesized that applying this product into a living grass-based cover crop could help improve the yield response.