Adaptation to Early-Season Soil Waterlogging Using Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Practices and Corn Hybrids

Abstract

Excessive rainfall occurring in the early spring season in the Midwestern United States result in waterlogged soils contributing to corn production losses. The objective of our study is to evaluate the impact of soil waterlogging [non-waterlogged or waterlogged for 7 days when corn was at V3 growth stage (corn plant having three fully developed leaves with collar visible)], different pre-plant nitrogen (N) fertilizer sources and post-waterlogging rescue N fertilizer on grain and silage yield of two commercially available corn hybrids with different flood tolerance. Pre-plant N fertilizer was applied at 168 kg N ha−1. Nitrogen sources were a non-treated control (CO), polymer coated urea (PCU), urea (NCU), and urea plus Instinct (NCU + NI). A post-waterlogging rescue N fertilizer was applied at V7 as 0 or 83 kg N ha−1 of urea plus N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) (NCU + UI). Waterlogging decreased grain and silage yields in different years; however, significant interactions were observed among treatments. Rescue N applications increased grain yields by 6–46% in non-waterlogged treatments, but not in waterlogged treatments. The PCU and NCU + NI increased grain yields compared to the CO. Pre-plant N sources showed no significant differences in grain yield, probably due to existing environmental conditions or incorporation of fertilizer. The N source, application method, and timing for post-waterlogging rescue N application and flood-tolerant corn hybrids needs further investigation in poorly-drained claypan soils prone to waterlogging under a changing climate.

Plant Adaptation to Flooding Stress under Changing Climate Conditions: Ongoing Breakthroughs and Future Challenges

“…The organic matter percentage, electron acceptors, soil pH, and temperature during flooding affect the soil Eh and are considered to control nitrogen losses [104]. In a study, the frequency of O 2 reduction increased from anaerobic soil during flooding as the soil Eh decreased by 50 mV each day [105]. Moreover, reduced redox potential was observed with decreased O 2 from flooded soil due to anaerobic conditions [106].…”

Nutrient management: as a panacea to improve the caryopsis quality and yield potential of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) under the changing climatic conditions

“…This is because waterlogging can reduce the availability and uptake of nitrogen by plants, which is an essential nutrient for the production of storage proteins ( Otie et al., 2019 ). When plants are waterlogged, the roots may not be able to take up nitrogen from the soil ( Kaur et al., 2020a ), or the nitrogen in the soil may be transformed into a form that is not readily available to plants. As a result, the plants may not be able to produce as much protein, or the protein content they do produce may be of lower quality.…”

Performance of Three Sorghum Cultivars under Excessive Rainfall and Waterlogged Conditions in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of West Africa: A Case Study at the Climate-Smart Village of Cinzana in Mali

“…Especially the currently most important staple crop, corn, and the cash crop, cotton, are susceptible to water logging [8,9]. higher probability of rainy seasons with excessive rainfalls.…”

“…Especially the currently most important staple crop, corn, and the cash crop, cotton, are susceptible to water logging [8,9].…”

“…Corn production is increasing rapidly from 2.3 to 3.6 million tons in 2017 [14] fueled by fertilizer subsidies [16]. Early maturing corn cultivars can be harvested in September [17] but is susceptible to waterlogging [8,18] after erratic rainfalls. However, sorghum (1.3 million tons 2017 [14]) is a robust crop both in wet years as well as in dry years with erratic rainfalls due to lower crop water demand than corn and due to waterlogging tolerance [15,17].…”