Corn Response to Enhanced‐Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizers and Poultry Litter

Abstract

Nitrogen is one of the most important and costly nutrient inputs for crop production. Farmers are looking for better management practice to enhance production and reduce environmental impact. A 3‐yr field study was established to examine corn ( Zea mays L.) grain yield and nutrient uptake resulting from application of 168 kg N ha −1 as urea (U), urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN), ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ), poultry litter (PL), and similar rate of commercially available enhanced‐efficiency nitrogen fertilizers (EENF) as follow: polymer‐coated urea (ESN), SuperU, UAN + AgrotainPlus, and PL + AgrotainPlus in a no‐till corn production. Treatments were replicated four times in a completely randomized block design from 2009 to 2011. Aboveground plant biomass was harvested at physiological maturity each year to determine dry matter and nutrient uptake. Soil samples were taken three times per year to evaluate the status of the selected nutrients in soil. There was a significant increase in corn aboveground dry matter and grain yield with application of 168 kg N ha −1 compared with control treatment. There was no significant difference in corn grain yield or dry matter among the N sources. However, averaged across all N sources, corn grain yield (10.1 Mg ha −1 ) in 2009 was greater than grain yield (7.5 Mg ha −1 ) in 2010 and 2011, mainly due to higher rainfall and better distribution in 2009. Addition of AgrotainPlus to UAN and PL did not influence corn grain yield. Additional research is needed to evaluate EENFs under different climatic conditions and different management practices.