Growth and nitrogen use efficiency of irrigated maize in a semiarid region as affected by nitrogen fertilization

Abstract

The main groundwater pollution factor in irrigated maize production areas is leaching of nitrogen below the root zone. During the years 1999-2001, experiments were carried out on irrigated maize in the semiarid region of Castilla- La Mancha to evaluate the effect of nitrogen in the growth and yield of maize. Three rates of nitrogen were tested: No (0 kg N ha-1), Nop (175, 150 and 130 kg N ha-1 in 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively), and Nc (300 kg N ha-1). A high initial level of residual soil NO-3 was found in the spring of 1999 as a consequence of fertilization carryover from the previous years. Although there was no plant response to N fertilization in 1999, significant responses were obtained during the following two years. Moreover, in 2000, the grain production did not show significant differences between Nop and Nc. However, in 2001, maize yield was slightly decreased due to an attempt to decrease the Nop to 130 kg N ha-1, showing significant differences with regard to Nc. The differences in grain yield among nitrogen levels were mainly due to a significant variation in maximum leaf area index, leaf area duration and crop growth rate. There was a decreasing pattern in nitrogen use efficiency values with increasing fertilizer rates, indicating that crop production could be sustained with lower fertilizer applications. Fertilizer practices must be revised in order to control and prevent insofar as possible water pollution in "La-Mancha Oriental" aquifer.