Nitrogen management and nitrification inhibitor effects on nitrogen-15 urea: 1. Yield and fertilizer use efficiency

Journal Article · · Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1990.03615995005400010018x· OSTI ID:5395789

Walters, D T ^[1]; Malzer, G L ^[2]

---

1. Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln (USA)
2. Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul (USA)

Nitrification inhibitors (NI) are sometimes recommended for use with ammoniacal fertilizers in corn (Zea mays L.) production to improve fertilizer N use efficiency (FUE). The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effects of the NI nitrapyrin (2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine) application on yield and FUE of irrigated corn, and to monitor the fate of a single application of {sup 15}N-enriched urea during a multiyear period in both soil and plant. Treatments included a factorial combination of two N rates (90 or 180 kg urea-N ha{sup {minus}1} yr{sup {minus}1}) applied during a 3-yr period, with or without a NI and with or without incorporation, plus a zero-N control. Twenty-seven nonweighing lysimeters were used to quantify leaching load. Treatment effects on yield and FUE differed each year due to interactions of climate and N-management variables. Nonincorporated urea + NI reduced grain yield when leaching load was low and increased yield at the 90 kg ha{sup {minus}1} N rate when leaching load was low. The NI increased FUE only at the 90 kg ha{sup {minus}1} N rate when leaching load was high. Incorporation of urea + NI reduced plant recovery of fertilizer-derived N (FDN) in the year of application, but resulted in increased uptake of residual FDN in subsequent years. Incorporation of NI with moderate N rates coupled with conservative irrigation management should reduce the risk of yield loss and minimize NO{sub 3} movement to groundwater.

• OSTI ID: 5395789
• Journal Information: Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States) Vol. 54:1; ISSN SSSJD; ISSN 0361-5995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540211 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (1990-)
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AMIDES
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
CEREALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DISSOLUTION
EFFICIENCY
FERTILIZERS
GRAMINEAE
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
LEACHING
LIGHT NUCLEI
LILIOPSIDA
LYSIMETERS
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAIZE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METABOLISM
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN 15
NITROGEN CYCLE
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOIL CHEMISTRY
STABLE ISOTOPES
UREA
WATER