Response of Silage Maize (Zea mays L.) to Nitrogen Fertilizer after Different Crops in a Semi Arid Environment

Authors : İsmail GÜL, Mehmet YILDIRIM, Cuma AKINCI, İlhan DORAN, Hasan KILIÇ

Pages : 513-520

View : 14 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2008-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The use of legume crops in maize rotation systems may decrease the need for nitrogen insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(N); fertilization and increase total output. The effect of previous crops insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(wheat, barley, lentil, Hungarian vetch, and fallow); and different N fertilization rates insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0, 120, 160, 200, and 240 kg of N ha-1); on yield and N content of silage maize insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Zea mays L.); were evaluated under irrigated conditions in Diyarbakır, Turkey, during the 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002 growing seasons. Dry matter yield varied between 10,068.2 and 16,480.4 kg ha-1. It was determined that Hungarian vetch was a suitable rotation crop, and that 200 kg of N ha-1 was the best N fertilization rate for silage maize production across years and N rates. Moreover, according to the previous crop × N fertilization rate interaction, the highest dry matter yield was obtained from 240 kg of N ha-1 after barley. Silage maize following Hungarian vetch in rotation did not respond to the application of more than 120 kg of N ha-1, in terms of dry matter and N yields, while in barley-maize and wheat-maize these 2 parameters increased in response to every level of N fertilization applied. Additionally, fallow-maize and wheat-maize did not respond to the application of more than 200 kg of N ha-1. The legumes showed potential as previous crops that could replace fallow and cereals in silage maize production by reducing the amount of N fertilizer used on silage maize without significantly decreasing dry matter and N yield. Nonetheless, the cereals demonstrated high dry matter yields, based on annual production. According to regression analysis, the highest dry matter and N yields were obtained from the application of 198, 254, 211, 80, and 210 kg of N ha-1 after previous crops of wheat, barley, lentil, Hungarian vetch, and fallow, respectively.
Keywords : Silage maize, yield, N yield, previous crops, nitrogen rate, nitrogen saving, cereal, legume