Impacts of nitrogen management on no-till maize production following forage cover crops
Abstract
Crop residue decomposition is slower in no-till (NT) systems, especially in high-biomass systems. Adopting optimum nN management can provide increased soil coverage and synchronize the supply of nutrients with the period of highest crop demand in agroecosystems. A three-year experiment was conducted to assess the feasibility of applying N on forage grass cover crops before termination {Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster [syn. Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. Ex A. Rich) Stapf] and Urochloa ruziziensis (R. Germ. and C.M. Evrard) Crins [syn. B. ruziziensis (R. Germ. and C.M. Evrard)]}, or on forage grass cover crop residues immediately before maize (Zea mays L.) seeding, aiming to supply N to the following maize crop. Urochloa brizantha had 25% higher biomass production and a higher amount of nutrient content than U. ruziziensis. The N application before termination increased biomass production and nutrient content in cover crop residues compared with the conventional fertilization method (30 kg N ha-1 in the maize seeeding plus 170 kg N ha-1 sidedressed in V6 growth stage). Nitrogen applied one day before seeding (DBS) of maize or using conventional method resulted in a higher number of ears per plant and more kernels per ear as well as a higher grain yields of maize (13.8 and 14.1 Mg ha-1, respectively) compared to N applied on cover crops. Our results suggest that, while both forage grass cover crops produced greater amounts of dry matter (DM) and released similar amounts of nutrients, applying all N to cover crops before maize is not a feasible alternative. Nitrogen application 1 DBS could be an alternative management option to supply N to maize because this method resulted in similar nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) as conventional fertilization method.
How to cite this document
Language
Collections

Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Núcleos de Ensino da Unesp: artigos 2009
Pinho, Sheila Zambello de; Oliveira, José Brás Barreto de
; Gazola, Rodrigo José Cristiano
; Mazotti, Adriano César
; Molero, Camila Schimite
; Mendes, Carolina Borghi
; Mello, Denise Fernandes de
; Marques, Emilia de Mendonça Rosa
; Talamoni, Jandira Liria Biscalquini
; Silva, José Humberto Dias da
et al. (Coleção PROGRAD (UNESP), 2011) [Livro]
-
Núcleos de Ensino da Unesp: artigos 2008
Pinho, Sheila Zambello de; Oliveira, José Brás Barreto de
; Pontes, Sueli Rodrigues
; Almeida, Djanira Soares de Oliveira e
; Godoy, Kathya Maria Ayres de
; Rosa, Claudia de Souza
; Nunes, Julianus Araújo
; Salvador, Sérgio Azevedo
; David, Célia Maria
; Vilche Peña, Angel Fidel
et al. (Coleção PROGRAD (UNESP), 2011) [Livro]
-
Ser e tornar-se professor: práticas educativas no contexto escolar
Pinho, Sheila Zambello de; Spazziani, Maria de Lourdes
; Mendonça, Sueli Guadelupe de Lima
; Rubo, Elisabete Aparecida Andrello
; Villarreal, Dalva Maria de Oliveira
; Duarte, Camila
; Okamoto, Mary Yoko
; Souza, Thais R.
; Garms, Gilza Maria Zauhy
; Marin, Fátima Aparecida Dias Gomes
et al. (Coleção PROGRAD (UNESP), 2012) [Livro]