John Schmidt1, Nan Hong2, Adam Dellinger3, Douglas Beegle3, and Hangsheng Lin4. (1) USDA-ARS-PSWMRU, Bldg 3702, Curtin Rd, University Park, PA 16802-3702, (2) Univerisity of Missouri, Plant Science Dept, 209A Waters Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, (3) Pennsylvania State Univ, 116 ASI Bldg, Dept of Crop & Soil, University Park, PA 16802, (4) Penn State Univ, 116 ASI Bldg, Dept of Crop & Soil, University Park, PA 16802
Spatial variability in economic optimum N rate (EONR) for
corn (Zea mays
L.) is not often considered as the primary criterion for site-specific N
management. Our objective was to characterize the spatial variability in EONR
for corn, considering the implications of soil
water characteristics that affect EONR variability along a hillslope.
Ten locations were selected along a 300-m toposequence in central Pennsylvania.
At each location, two reps of six N treatments
were applied at planting. Soil water content (0-90 cm) was recorded weekly at
each location between 23 June and 1 September. Grain yield was determined at
harvest. A quadratic-plateau model was used to describe the yield response to N
and determine EONR at each location. A response to N fertilizer was observed at
nine of 10 locations. The EONR ranged from 47 to 188 kg N ha-1 among
the nine locations, while EONR for the mean response was 137 kg N ha-1.
At four of nine locations, observed EONR deviated from field-mean EONR by 40 to
50 kg N ha-1. Although EONR increased from 68 to 141 kg N ha-1
as grain yield observed at EONR increased from 11.1 to 13.1 Mg ha-1
(r2=0.43), the relationship between EONR and the change in soil
profile water content (0-90 cm) between 30 June and 25 July (representing the
driest and wettest soil conditions early in the growing season) was quite
strong (r2=0.92). Soil water redistribution during this critical
part of the growing season was implicated in the observed differences in EONR.
Successful site-specific N management will depend on an evaluation of the
spatial variability in EONR and the corresponding causal factors of EONR
variability, which may or may not be related to the spatial yield variability