HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ping, J. L. Articles by Dobermann, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Ping, J. L. Articles by Dobermann, A. Agricola Articles by Ping, J. L. Articles by Dobermann, A. Related Collections Nutrient Management Site-Specific Analysis Maize Management

SITE-SPECIFIC ANALYSIS & MANAGEMENT

Site-Specific Nitrogen and Plant Density Management in Irrigated Maize

^a Univ. of Connecticut, Unit 4067, Storrs, CT 06269-4067
^b Dep. of Agron. and Hortic., Univ. of Nebraska, P.O. Box 830915, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915
^c Int. Rice Res. Inst. (IRRI), DAPO Box 7777, Manila 1271, The Philippines

^* Corresponding author (rferguson1{at}unl.edu).

Economic or environmental benefits resulting from variable-rate (VR) application of N and seed are uncertain in irrigated maize (Zea mays L.) systems with high yield potential. We evaluated different plant population and N management strategies in two irrigated maize fields in Nebraska. Inputs were varied according to yield zones derived from yield maps, detailed maps of soil organic matter (SOM), and sampled seasonal NO₃ status. Uniform management following Best Management Practices (BMPs) resulted in high levels of grain yield (>15 t ha^–1 at Site 1; >12 t ha^–1 at Site 2), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and gross return above input cost. Management of high-yielding irrigated systems on relatively flat terrain was not improved through the predictive site-specific approaches tested in this study, which relied on available historical field information (yield maps, weather) and seasonal soil sampling. Among four site-years, only one site-year showed significant increases in yield and NUE and decrease in N input with the VR N. Yield interactions between VR N management strategies and plant population were not significant. More potential for increasing yields, resource efficiency, and profitability may exist through integrating such approaches with dynamic, in-season management of water and N. Such approaches are emerging, but remain to be evaluated thoroughly, particularly under high-yielding conditions and against conventional BMPs.

Abbreviations: BMPs, best management practices • EC_a, apparent soil electrical conductivity • GRC, gross return above fertilizer and seed cost • NUE, nitrogen use efficiency, defined as kg grain yield per kg N applied • SOM, soil organic matter • SSCM, site-specific crop management • VR, variable rate

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Received for publication May 25, 2007.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. He, S. Li, J. Jin, H. Wang, C. Li, Y. Wang, and R. Cui Performance of an Optimized Nutrient Management System for Double-Cropped Wheat-Maize Rotations in North-Central China Agron. J., November 1, 2009; 101(6): 1489 - 1496. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]