INTENSIDADE DE IRRIGAÇÃO E MANEJO DA ADUBAÇÃO NITROGENADA DE COBERTURA NO MILHO EM SISTEMA DE PLANTIO DIRETO CONSOLIDADO

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate how the management of nitrogen fertilization in corn and irrigation rates affects the nitrogen dynamics in the soil profile and corn grain yield. For this, was evaluated an experimental area which has been cultivated in no-tillage system since 22 years ago, in Eldorado do Sul/RS. Treatments consisted of the combination of nitrogen management in coverage (control without nitrogen topdressed, single application of 300 kg ha-1 and this dose splitted in two times) and irrigation rates (20 and 100 mm). Soil samples were taken ten days after the first fertilizer nitrogen in coverage and ten days after the second fertilizer N in coverage. Regardless of the rate, irrigation promoted the increase in nitrate content in subsurface layer (20-30 and 30-40 cm) after the application of nitrogen cover doses. The nitrogen splitted fertilization is an effective alternative to reduce the nitrate content in subsurface soil layers, for both irrigation rates. However, this is not reflected in higher yields and economic returns when compared to single application of nitrogen, regardless of the irrigation rate.