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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #250247

Title: Evaluation of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer placement with strip tillage for irrigated Pacific Northwest corn production

Author
item Tarkalson, David
item Bjorneberg, David - Dave

Submitted to: Crop Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/7/2010
Publication Date: 6/11/2010
Citation: Tarkalson, D.D., Bjorneberg, D.L. 2010. Evaluation of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer Placement With Strip Tillage for Irrigated Pacific Northwest Corn Production. Crop Management. Available: http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/sub/cm/research/2010/placement/.

Interpretive Summary: Nutrient placement options with strip tillage can potentially improve plant nutrient utilization and increase crop yield compared to conventional fertilizer placement practices under conventional tillage. Band placement of fertilizer with strip tillage increased corn grain yield by 12.5 percent and 25.9 percent on the eroded soils compared to conventional fertilizer placement (broadcast and close to seed) under conventional tillage in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Reduced tillage costs of strip tillage with associated band placement of nitrogen and phosphorus could increase the economic productivity of many acres of land growing corn for grain in the Pacific Northwest.

Technical Abstract: Nutrient placement options with strip tillage (ST) can potentially improve plant nutrient utilization and increase crop yield compared to conventional fertilizer placement practices under conventional tillage (CT). The effects of tillage practice and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) placement on grain yield, biomass yield (whole plant, sum of grain, cobs, and stover), and N and P uptake of field corn (Zea mays L.) were assessed on four sites during 2007 and 2009 at the USDA-ARS Northwest Irrigation & Soils Research Laboratory at Kimberly, ID. During each year, two locations (eroded and not eroded from furrow irrigation) were utilized as study locations. Band placement of fertilizer with ST increased corn grain yield by 12.5 percent (689 kg per ha) and 25.9 percent (1,626 kg per ha) on the eroded locations compared to broadcast N and P and 5cm by 5cm N under CT in 2007 and 2009, respectively. These increased yields also resulted in better utilization of N and P by the plant. Reduced tillage costs of ST with associated band placement of N and P could increase the economic productivity of many acres of land in the Pacific Northwest.