A Long-Term Look at Crop Rotation on Corn Yield and Response to Nitrogen Fertilization

Mallarino, Antonio P.; Ortíz-Torres, Enrique

doi:10.31274/icm-180809-863

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Indeed, at zero N fertilizer, corn yields from a corn–soy rotation can double those of a corn–corn rotation (Shah et al. , Mallarino and Ortiz‐Torres , Stanger and Lauer ). Among the perennial and cover cropped rotations, almost all (95%) included leguminous species exclusively or in mixtures, suggesting that at low N fertilizer rates, they may increase production of residue from grain crops relative to those of the grain‐only control by providing a N source.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Simultaneously, in the cereal + legume grain rotation, consistent with the stress gradient hypothesis (Brooker et al 2005, Li et al 2007), the legume grain may increase cereal yield relative to cereal only rotations. Indeed, at zero N fertilizer, corn yields from a corn-soy rotation can double those of a corn-corn rotation (Shah et al 2003, Mallarino and Ortiz-Torres 2006, Stanger and Lauer 2008. Among the perennial and cover cropped rotations, almost all (95%) included leguminous species exclusively or in mixtures, suggesting that at low N fertilizer rates, they may increase production of residue from grain crops relative to those of the grain-only control by providing a N source.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crop rotations for increased soil carbon: perenniality as a guiding principle

King

Blesh

2017

Ecological Applications

164

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Abstract. More diverse crop rotations have been promoted for their potential to remediate the range of ecosystem services compromised by biologically simplified grain-based agroecosystems, including increasing soil organic carbon (SOC). We hypothesized that functional diversity offers a more predictive means of characterizing the impact of crop rotations on SOC concentrations than species diversity per se. Furthermore, we hypothesized that functional diversity can either increase or decrease SOC depending on its associated carbon (C) input to soil. We compiled a database of 27 cropping system sites and 169 cropping systems, recorded the species and functional diversity of crop rotations, SOC concentrations (g C kg/soil), nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications (kg NÁha ). We categorized crop rotations into three broad categories: grain-only rotations, grain rotations with cover crops, and grain rotations with perennial crops. We divided the grain-only rotations into two sub-categories: cereal-only rotations and those that included both cereals and a legume grain. We compared changes in SOC and C input using mean effect sizes and 95% bootstrapped confidence intervals. Cover cropped and perennial cropped rotations, relative to grain-only rotations, increased C input by 42% and 23% and SOC concentrations by 6.3% and 12.5%, respectively. Within grain-only rotations, cereal + legume grain rotations decreased total C input (À16%), root C input (À12%), and SOC (À5.3%) relative to cereal-only rotations. We found no effect of species diversity on SOC within grain-only rotations. N fertilizer rates mediated the effect of functional diversity on SOC within grain-only crop rotations: at low N fertilizer rates (≤75 kg NÁha ), the decrease in SOC with cereal + legume grain rotations was less than at high N fertilizer rates. Our results show that increasing the functional diversity of crop rotations is more likely to increase SOC concentrations if it is accompanied by an increase in C input. Functionally diverse perennial and cover cropped rotations increased both C input and SOC concentrations, potentially by exploiting niches in time that would otherwise be unproductive, that is, increasing the "perenniality" of crop rotations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop rotations for increased soil carbon: perenniality as a guiding principle

King

Blesh

2017

Ecological Applications

164

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“…Normal yields were based on 2000 to 2005 mean yields for Wisconsin (Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service 2001-2006), which were 8.47 Mg ha −1 for corn grain and 8.06 Mg ha −1 for full alfalfa production. Based on results of longterm cropping systems trials, we assumed corn yield the first year following alfalfa was increased by 15% [25]. The high yield scenario for corn represented optimal growing conditions in south-central Wisconsin.…”

Section: Crop System Descriptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economics and Energy of Ethanol Production from Alfalfa, Corn, and Switchgrass in the Upper Midwest, USA

2008

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In the USA, biomass crop systems will be needed to meet future ethanol production goals. We estimated production costs, profits, and energy budgets for three potential crop systems for the Upper Midwest: continuous corn with stover harvest, an alfalfa-corn rotation with stover harvest, and switchgrass. Production costs, profits, and on-farm energy use were greatest for continuous corn, less for alfalfa-corn, and least for switchgrass. Energy to transport crops was similar for all crop systems. Both energy used to produce ethanol and energy output in ethanol was greatest for continuous corn, less for alfalfa-corn, and least for switchgrass. Co-product energy output was 32% greater for alfalfa-corn than continuous corn and 42% greater than switchgrass. Net energy produced (outputs-inputs) was greatest for switchgrass, followed by continuous corn, and then alfalfa-corn. Efficiency of energy production (outputs/inputs) was greatest for switchgrass, followed by alfalfa-corn, and then continuous corn. Our analysis emphasizes tradeoffs among crop systems. Corn may produce high rates of ethanol and net energy, but will do so least efficiently and with the greatest erosion and N leaching. Corn may have the greatest production costs, but return the greatest profit. Comparatively, alfalfa-corn will produce less ethanol and net energy, but will do so more efficiently, and with less erosion and little N leaching. Production costs, but also profits, may be less for alfalfa-corn than continuous corn. Switchgrass may produce the most net energy and will do so most efficiently and with the least erosion, but will also yield the least ethanol. Nitrogen leaching will be less for switchgrass than corn, but greater than alfalfa-corn. Switchgrass may be the least expensive to produce, but may return a profit only if selling prices or yields are high.

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“…All primary sources of data, years, range in observed yields, and the predicted optimum N rate for all locations are reported in Table 1. Substantive published research has shown dramatic changes in optimum N rates varying from year to year at the same location (Al- Kaisi and Yin, 2003;Bundy et al, 2011;Eck, 1984;Fenster et al, 1978;Gehl et al, 2005;Ismail et al, 1994;Jokela and Randall, 1989;Mallarino and Ortiz-Torres, 2006;Meisinger et al, 1985;Olson et al, 1986;Peterson and Varvel, 1989;Randall et al, 2003;Rice et al, 1986;Shapiro and Wortmann, 2006;Stecker et al, 1993;Varvel et al, 2007;Vetsch and Randall, 2004;Woodruff et al, 1984). Nonetheless, given the importance of N for both crop production and the environment, no single document addresses the comprehensive nature of the problem or provides realistic and accurate estimates of the present variability in N rate recommendations.…”

Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability in Optimum Nitrogen Rates for Maize

Dhital

Raun

2016

Agronomy Journal

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Maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield levels and the response to fertilizer nitrogen (N) are expected to change from year to year and from location to location. Because yield level and N response have been documented to be independent and are known to infl uence N demand, optimum N rates at the same location vary each year due to unpredictable changes in the environment. Th e objective of this study was to further analyze maize grain yield levels and optimum fertilizer N rates from published data in maize growing regions of the United States. Optimum N rates were determined by calculating the diff erence in N uptake between the highest-yielding plot and the check plot (no N applied [0-N]). Th e diff erence in grain N uptake between the fertilized plot and the 0-N check plot was then divided by 0.33 (the assumed average N use effi ciency) to estimate optimum N rate by site and year. For the 213 site-years of data included in this study, grain yields in both the high N rate and check (0-N) plots were highly variable. Optimum N rates fl uctuated from year to year at all locations. Optimum N rates were not highly correlated with the high-N rate yield (R 2 = 0.20) or 0-N check yield (R 2 = 0.16). Th e wide range in optimum N rates observed in all maize experiments suggests the need to adjust N rates by year and location. A potential solution is to use midseason sensor-based technologies that can accurately predict yield potential and simultaneously encumber N responsiveness known to be independent of yield.Plant and Soil Sciences Dep., 044 N Ag Hall,

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A Long-Term Look at Crop Rotation on Corn Yield and Response to Nitrogen Fertilization

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Crop rotations for increased soil carbon: perenniality as a guiding principle

Crop rotations for increased soil carbon: perenniality as a guiding principle

Economics and Energy of Ethanol Production from Alfalfa, Corn, and Switchgrass in the Upper Midwest, USA

Variability in Optimum Nitrogen Rates for Maize

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