Research Article Open Access

EFFECT OF UREA WITH NUTRISPHERE-N POLYMER IN FALL AND SPRING NITROGEN APPLICATIONS FOR CORN

Pawel Wiatrak1 and Walter B. Gordon2
  • 1 School of Agricultural, Forest and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Edisto REC, Blackville, United States
  • 2 Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States

Abstract

Polymer coated urea may be a viable option to improve Nitrogen (N) uptake and corn (Zea mays L.) grain yields, especially in areas with relatively high soil N loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two urea application timings (fall and spring) and three N rates (90, 180 and 270 kg N ha-1) with and without Nutrisphere-N polymer on irrigated corn near Scandia, KS from 2006 to 2008. Compared to uncoated N, urea coated with Nutrisphere-N improved grain yields by 18.3% with applications of 180 kg N ha-1 in the fall. Application of urea with Nutrisphere-N in the spring produced similar grain yields for treatments with and without Nutrisphere-N. Corn ear-leaf content was highest with urea applied at 90 kg N ha-1 in the fall and urea coated with Nutrisphere-N at 180 and 240 kg N ha-1 in the fall and spring. Grain N content was highest from urea coated with Nutrisphere-N application at 270 kg N ha-1 in the fall and spring. Compared to untreated urea, Nutrisphere-N improved grain N removal by 29.6% at 180 kg N ha-1 applied in the fall. Spring urea application with Nutrisphere-N produced similar grain N removal compared to urea without Nutrisphere-N. Generally, adding Nutrisphere-N to urea fertilizer may help improve N content in leaves and grain and increase grain yields of corn, especially with the fall N applications having higher potential of soil N loss.

American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Volume 9 No. 1, 2014, 89-93

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2014.89.93

Submitted On: 11 December 2013 Published On: 27 December 2013

How to Cite: Wiatrak, P. & Gordon, W. B. (2014). EFFECT OF UREA WITH NUTRISPHERE-N POLYMER IN FALL AND SPRING NITROGEN APPLICATIONS FOR CORN. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 9(1), 89-93. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2014.89.93

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Keywords

  • Corn
  • Polymer
  • Nutrisphere-N
  • Urea