Soil Nitrogen Amendment Effects on Nitrogen Uptake and Grain Yield of Maize

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Abstract
Efficient use of soil N amendments in maize (Zea mays L.) production is necessary to maximize producer's economic returns and to maintain soil and water quality. A 5‐year field experiment was conducted on a Brandon loam soil (fine loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Endoaquoll) (Orthic Humic Gleysol) with the objective of measuring N uptake and grain yield of two maize hybrids under different N amendments [no amendment, NH4NO3 at 100 and 200 kg N ha−1, and stockpiled and rotted dairy manure at 50 and 100 Mg ha−1 (wet wt.)] to determine differences in N use efficiency (NUE) and its components, N uptake efficiency and N utilization efficiency. The N amendments increased the grain yield (by an average of 20%) and NUE (by an average of 17.5%) of a modern hybrid (Pioneer ‘3902’) more than that of an old hybrid (‘Pride 5’). The difference method that was used to estimate N recovery indicated that, over the course of the study, Pioneer 3902 took up 48% of inorganic fertilizer N and 20% of the manure N, compared with 42 and 16%, respectively, for Pride 5. Manure application resulted in total N uptake comparable to the 200 kg N ha−1 treatment. Grain yields of manure treatments in 1993 and 1994 were generally lower (5–15%) than the 200 kg N ha−1 treatment. During the latter periods (1995 and 1996) of the study with repeated application under continuous maize, all manure treatments produced grain yields equal to or slightly greater (6–13%) than the fertilizer treatment. Dairy manure application increased N uptake and grain yield of maize. The NUE, based on added mineral N levels, for all manure treatments was greater than for the 200 kg N ha−1 treatment.
Funding Information
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada