Effect of Fertilization System and NO3-N Distribution on Corn Yield

Abstract

The objectives of the study have been to determine the effects of winter precipitation, NO3-N distribution in the soil profile and their interaction on corn yield in different fertilization systems. Corn yield varied across fertilization systems and winter rainfall in the investigated years (2001-2004). Significantly higher yields were found in variants with manure application in diculture (DC-M-NPK - 12.11 t ha(-1)) and in monoculture (MC-M-NPK - 9.25 t ha-1). Path coefficients showed that the highest direct positive effects on corn yields were exhibited by NO3-N amounts at soil depths 30-60 cm and 60-90 cm (p = 0.4336** and p = 0.2346**, respectively). Winter precipitation had a direct negative effect on the yield performance (p = -0.1159), however, the downward movement of NO3-N from topsoil (0-30 cm) to deeper soil layers (30-60 and 60-90 cm), whose N levels were directly positively correlated with yield, made the indirect effect of winter precipitation on yield positive.