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A methodology to develop algorithms that predict nitrogen fertilizer needs in maize based on chlorophyll measurements: a case study in Central Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2015

L. TORRES-DORANTE ,
R. PAREDES-MELESIO ,
A. LINK  and
J. LAMMEL
L. TORRES-DORANTE*
Affiliation:
Research Centre Hanninghof, Yara International ASA, 48249 Duelmen, Germany
R. PAREDES-MELESIO
Affiliation:
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Campo Experimental Bajío, 38010 Celaya, Guanajuato, México
A. LINK
Affiliation:
Research Centre Hanninghof, Yara International ASA, 48249 Duelmen, Germany
J. LAMMEL
Affiliation:
Research Centre Hanninghof, Yara International ASA, 48249 Duelmen, Germany
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: luis.torres@yara.com
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Summary

Identifying and applying the optimum fertilizer nitrogen (N) rate is a permanent challenge for farmers. Prediction of fertilizer N requirement, based on crop chlorophyll measurements (CMs), relies on a strong relationship between fertilizer N supply and leaf chlorophyll concentration at a given crop growth stage. A methodological approach is described, aiming to develop an algorithm that uses CM inputs to derive the economically optimum fertilizer N rate for top-dressing, without using a reference plot for data normalization. The method was tested on maize (Zea mays L. cvar Jabali) at experimental and farmer sites in the central (‘Bajío’) region of Mexico over 3 years (2010–12). Increasing fertilizer N supply at planting significantly influenced chlorophyll concentration at the seventh unfolded maize leaf stage (GS 17 on the Zadoks scale). Maize grain yields increased with increasing total fertilizer N supply and fitted quadratic models, which allowed economically optimum fertilizer N rates (Nopt) to be calculated. The Nopt ranged from 160 to 300 kg N/ha and corresponding grain yields ranged from 7·7 to 14 t/ha. Grouped data analysis (sites–years) confirmed a highly significant relationship between the Nopt and the chlorophyll concentration at GS 17, which could be described by a linear model: Nopt = 513·3–0·58 × CM. This model predicted the top-dressing Nopt within a fertilizer N management regime adapted to local maize cropping systems and led to similar grain yields across test sites compared with the same parameters calculated based on grain yield response trials. The current approach is variety-specific, so development of so-called correction factors accounting for variety-related differences in chlorophyll concentration is described. The results demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed algorithms to support decision-making on the optimum fertilizer N rate to apply in maize production systems with one top-dressing application.

Type
Crops and Soils Research Papers
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 154 , Issue 4 , May 2016 , pp. 705 - 719
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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