Fate and Utilization of Fertilizer in Inbred and Hybrid Corn Production

To evaluate the impact of N rate and crop rotation on uptake of fertilizer N in seed corn production, corn inbred lines were grown in corn-corn and corn-soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) rotations using N application rates of 0 to 144 lb acre$\sp{-1}$. When corn was the previous crop, seed yield of all increased with increasing N rate in two of three years, with the optimum N rate varying from 68 to 122 lb acre$\sp{-1}$. Optimum N rates were lower (0 to 96 lb acre$\sp{-1}$) following soybean than when following corn, and no N response was observed in 5 of 9 cases. Recovery of fertilizer N by inbred corn plants ranged from 30 to 45% of the amount applied and was higher at lower application rates and when soybean was the previous crop. A N fertilizer recommendation, calculated using a factor of 1.2 lb N per bu of proven yield and a 20 lb-acre$\sp{-1}$ N credit when soybean was the previous crop, provided adequate N for optimum seed production. Loss of fertilizer N ranged from 16% to 32%, with greatest losses occurring with 144 lb N acre$\sp{-1}$ regardless of rotation. Leaching of NO$\sb3$-N was detected when N application rates exceeded recommended values.

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

2015

Author dc:creator

• Stevens, William Bart

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume

• Agriculture, Agronomy

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9904595

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/87673