Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for corn production, higher grain yields are depen­dent on N fertilizer application. Substances like the nitrification inhibitors (NI) were created to increase yields, promote nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and reduce N losses. The study was carried out in ten site-years in Kansas from 2017 to 2021, with the objec­tive of evaluating the nitrogen agronomic efficiency (NAE) in corn with and without the use of NI and comparing corn grain yield, grain N uptake, and soil mineral nitrogen content with the use of the NI. Nitrogen fertilizer at the rates of 100, 150, and 200 lb of N/a using anhydrous ammonia (AA) as source was applied to the soil with and without the combination of NI (nitrapyrin) in the spring, also a treatment with 0 lb of N/a without NI was used as control. Soil ammonium average content in V8 growth stage was higher with the use of the NI at the rate of 150 lb of N/a, AONR and EONR values were lower with the use of NI. Higher N grain uptake and NAE were obtained when 150 lb of N/a was applied with NI combination.

Keywords: Nitrification, nitrogen, corn

How to Cite:

Morinigo, P. & Ruiz Diaz, D. A., (2023) “Could the Use of Nitrification Inhibitor Optimize the Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Corn Production?”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 9(8). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8546