Nitrogen Behavior and Uptake by Corn as Affected by Time of Application, Nitrapyrin, and Supplemental Winter Heat

Climatic conditions between the time of fertilizer N application and corn (Zea mays L.) flowering, along with the presence or absence of chemical nitrification inhibitors such as nitrapyrin, largely determine the amount of N lost from the soil. Field studies were conducted at Urbana, Illinois, to evaluate the effects of supplemental winter heat and nitrapyrin applied with fall and spring applications of aqua ammonia on nitrification, nitrapyrin degradation, corn yield, and N uptake by corn. Heat treatments consisted of 29 days at 21 C and 90 days at 10 C in the winter of 1977-1978, and 55 days at 15 C in the winter 1978-1979. Nitrogen rates ranged from 0 to 252 kg/ha and 0 to 336 kg/ha in 1977-1978 and 1978-1979, respectively. Nitrapyrin was applied only in 1978-1979 and ranged from 0 to 1.12 kg/ha. Laboratory studies were also conducted to relate a degree day term (nitrification degree day) to the percent of applied ammonium remaining in the soil at any given time after N application in the presence or absence of nitrapyrin. Nitrogen (0, 341, and 682 ppm) and nitrapyrin (0, 1.7, and 3.4 ppm) were applied to the soil and incubated in temperature controlled chambers for 150 days at 4, 10, 15, and 21 C. At various times during the experiment, the soil was analyzed for ammonium, and the results were compared to field data.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agronomy

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Hane, John William

• Agriculture, Agronomy

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8127601

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/68473