363-2 Irrigated Soybean Response to Nitrogen Applied During Early Reproductive GROWTH.



Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall C, Street Level

Charles Wortmann, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, Richard B. Ferguson, Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE and Charles A. shapiro, Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Concord, NE
High yield soybean (Glycine max L.) has a high rate of N uptake during grain fill which may exceed N available from biological N fixation and mineralization of soil organic N. Other research findings show a low probability of response to N applied at early pod formation when soybean grain yield is below 4 Mg ha-1 but less research has been conducted for higher yield soybean and with inconsistent results. The effect of applying N and S to the soil at early pod was determined for eastern and south central Nebraska. Fifty six irrigated trials were conducted and 44 had mean yield above 4 Mg ha-1. Mean yield increases with 25 kg ha-1 N applied were small or not significant for soybean with above 4 Mg ha-1 yield and were 0.17 Mg ha-1 in south central, 0.10 Mg ha-1 in northeast, and not significant in southeast Nebraska. There was no added yield with applying 54 compared with 25 kg ha-1 N or with the addition of 5 kg ha-1 S. Variations in soil properties and in leaf N and S concentrations were not related to yield or to the response to applied N. Depending on the grain to fertilizer price ratio, application of N at early pod formation may be profitable, especially if the cost of application is low such as through fertigation.
See more from this Division: S04 Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition
See more from this Session: Nitrogen and Crop Production: II