Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization on Nutrient Removal by Corn Grain

Nitrogen fertilization and nutrient removal are some of the greatest challenges associated with the production of bioethanol from corn grain in the United States. The project was conducted in Missouri from 2008 to 2009 in a silt loam soil to determine the effect of N fertilization on the nutrient removal by corn grain. Corn grain removed 31 to 201 kg N/ha, 10 to 102 kg K/ha, 3 to 20 kg P/ha, 0.6 to 11 kg Ca/ha, 0.7 to 2.7 kg Fe/ha, 0.045 kg Mn/ha, and 0.003 kg Cu/ha, depending on the N rate. Our results suggest that as farmers add N to their soil to improve the grain or starch yield, they will also be increasing the nutrient removal, therefore affecting the fertility of their fields if the nutrient removal is not offset.

Source de publication: Crop Management doi:10.1094/CM-2011-12XX-01-RS.

Contacts du ou des auteurs: Holou R. A. Y., Stevens G., Kindomihou V. (vkindomihou@yahoo.fr)