Nitrogen and water regime effects on corn yields determined by N-15 methodology

This investigation was carried out to determine the relationships between fertilizer N leaching and N fertilizer application time, method and irrigation rate by using 15N methodology. Therefore, in the field experiments, the effects of three factors namely a) Irrigation rate (optimum 240 mm, high 360 mm), b) N application time (All at planting, 1/2 at planting and 1/2 after planting when plant heights were 50 cm), c) N application method (side dress and broadcast) were investigated. The field experiments were conducted using randomized block design as split-split plot and 4 replications. As the test plant hybrid corn was selected and at planting row spaces were arranged as 0.80 m x 0.25 m. Nitrogen was applied 120 kg N/ha to the all treatments as urea fertilizer (46 % N). In addition, to the sub-plots (which received half of N at planting and the other half when plant heights were 50 cm) 15N labelled urea (2.63 % 15N a.e. as 120 kg N/ha) was applied. After harvesting, total N and 15N analyses were done for plant and soil samples. The results showed that the seed and total yields were increased with higher (360 mm) irrigation. When N application was side dressed the availability of N was increased, and also its loss by leaching from the active root zone was decreased. In conclusion, it was observed that at high irrigation rate was saved about 84 kg N/ha by side dressing rather than broadcasting of the applied N fertilizer