Footprints of corn nitrogen management on the following soybean crop. (4th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Correndo, Adrian A.; Adee, Eric; Rosso, Luiz H. Moro; Tremblay, Nicolas; Prasad, P. V. Vara; Du, Juan; Ciampitti, Ignacio A.
• Is Part Of: Agronomy Journal. Volume 114:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 1475
• Page End: 1488
• Publication Date: 2022-04-04
• Subjects: Agronomy -- Periodicals; 630
• DOI: 10.1002/agj2.21023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-1962

Abstract

Abstract: Corn ( Zea mays L.)–soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is among the most typical crop rotations in the U.S. Corn Belt, and N is the most limiting nutrient for both crops. This study aims to assess the effects of N management for corn on the following soybean crop. Two corn–soybean rotation N fertilizer rate studies—a long‐term study (1983–2020, Case Study I) and a two‐season study (2019–2020, Case Study II)—were conducted in Kansas (United States). Case Study I focused on soybean seed yield as the response variable, whereas Case Study II included a detailed seasonal characterization of soil N, symbiotic N fixation (SNF), and plant N uptake for soybean considering N fertilizer rates on the previous corn crop. Apparent N budgets from corn (N fertilizer minus grain N removal) ranged from approximately −100 to approximately +50 kg N ha −1, and soybean yields were slightly or not affected by corn N management. Case Study I showed that long‐term N budgets in corn crops did not affect the following soybean crop yields. In Case Study II, the previous corn N management produced negative or small N surplus that influenced neither soil residual N nor SNF, without compromising soybean productivity. Farmers applying close to economic optimum N rates on corn will likely not generate scenarios of N surplus to compromise SNF or soybean yields. Forthcoming research should further address how long‐term and large soil N mining or surplus in corn may enhance or inhibit N fixation for the next soybean crop. Core Ideas: Soybean yields were slightly or not affected by N management of the previous corn crop. Soil N during soybean season was not affected by previous corn N management. Apparent N budgets from previous corn were mostly below zero or slightly positive. Small N surplus (<50 kg N ha −1 ) did not influence soybean yields and N fixation. Long‐term N budgets in corn crops did not affect next‐season soybean yields.