Spatio-temporal Nitrogen fertilizer response in maize: Field study and modeling approach

ALBARENQUE S. M., BASSO B. CAVIGLIA O. Y MELCHIORI R.J.M.

AGRONOMY JOURNAL

AMER SOC AGRONOMY

Año: 2016 vol. 108 p. 2110 - 2122

0002-1962

Both maize (Zea mays L.) yield and its responseto nitrogen (N) are affected by the spatial variability of the interactionbetween weather, management and soil properties. The objectives of this studywere to: i) evaluate the response of spatial variability of maize yield byhomogeneous zones (HZ) to different N fertilizer rates under rainfed conditions, ii)test the ability of the SALUS model to simulate the effects of N rates on maizeyield under both rainfed and irrigated conditions, and iii) estimate spatialand temporal N fertilizer response risk in maize through the use oflong-term simulations. Two field experiments in Parana, Argentina (-31˚ 50; -60˚31?) in 2011 (Field 1) and 2012 (Field 2) where four fertilizationtreatments (0, 70, 140 and 210 kg ha-1) were evaluated in HZ. SALUS model was used to evaluate spatialvariability in yield, N response and net revenue over the long-term period(1971-2012). Results showed that yield was significantly affected by N rate(p