Evaluation of Nutrient Movement in Soil for Corn Grown Under Different Soil Zones and Tillage Systems.

Nutrient leaching, especially nitrogen (N), is the reason for environmental and health concerns due to soil and groundwater pollution. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrient movement in the soil for dryland corn (Zea mays L.) planted under different soil texture zones, based on soil electric conductivity (EC), and tillage systems. The research project was initiated with planting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cover crop in the fall of 2006 at Clemson University, Edisto Research and Education Center near Blackville, SC. A commercially available soil EC measurement system (Veris Technologies 3100) was used to identify variations in soil texture across the fields prior to planting corn and create soil zone maps using Global Positioning and Geographical Information Systems. Corn was planted across four different soil zones and under three tillage systems (no-till, conventional, and strip-till), two methods of N application (all at planting and split application), and five N rates (0, 45, 90, 134, and 179 kg N ha^-1). Generally, based on the soil sample tests collected following corn harvest, nitrate nitrogen and other nutrient movement in the soil was influenced by soil texture. The results also indicate that nutrient movement can be influenced by tillage system and fertilization applications.