Economic nitrogen doses via fertigation for corn cultivation in a semiarid environment

Abstract

Producers in the northeastern semiarid region of Brazil have been cultivating irrigated corn. The commercialized product comprises mainly green ears and silage. However, the irrigation of crops for dry grain has been questioned regarding costs and price competitiveness in relation to the same non-irrigated product cultivated in other regions. In recent years, the use of drip tapes and fertigation has spread among corn producers in the region. The aim of this study was to determine the N dose, via fertigation, which provides the maximum economic production of corn for dry grain, in two crop seasons (summer and winter), in the semiarid region of Brazil. The experimental design was performed in randomized blocks, with four replications. In both crops, the treatments consisted of four doses of N (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg ha-1) applied in the form of urea. In the hybrid corn (Bt Feroz), the N content was evaluated in terms of leaves, grain yield, gross and net incomes, the rate of return, and the profitability index. Independent of the crop season, the yield of dry grain (5,441.03 kg ha-1) was highest when the corn was fertigated with a dose of 104.05 kg ha-1 N. The highest net incomes of the dry grain were obtained with 80 kg ha-1 N in summer (R$ 1,190.78 ha-1) and 160 kg ha-1 N in winter (R$ 2,757.54 ha-1). The winter crop was more favorable to the economic production of dry grain.

Effect of Drip Irrigation With Foliar Dressing of Mineral Fertilizer Kristalon and Their Impact on Maize Grain Yield in Southern Kazakhstan

“…In conditions of low fertility and poor land productivity in Ningxia Province (China), the use of fertilizers increased the content of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available potassium, and available phosphorus, as well as dry matter accumulation and corn grain yield (Wang et al, 2019). The importance of nitrogen fertilizer application has its establishment in the Northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil, with the nitrogen content estimated by leaves, grain yield, gross and net income, profit margin, and profitability index (Souza et al, 2021).…”

“…The use of nitrogen fertigation not only maximizes the corn grain yield but also ensures the highest efficiency of nitrogen and water use (Lamm and Trooien, 2003). In the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil, drip irrigation with fertigation units for fertilization has become widespread to ensure maximum economic production of corn (Souza et al, 2021). A study also established that under certain water conditions, an increase in fertilizer quantity cannot significantly increase grain yield or water productivity and can negatively affect those (Cao et al, 2022).…”