Evidence that nitrogen (N) fertilization tends to accelerate maturation as well as increase rates of growth has received little attention when diagnosing N deficiencies in corn (Zea mays L.).Such a tendency could be a...Evidence that nitrogen (N) fertilization tends to accelerate maturation as well as increase rates of growth has received little attention when diagnosing N deficiencies in corn (Zea mays L.).Such a tendency could be a potential source of errors when the diagnosis is solely based on comparing plants with different rates of growth.Whether N fertilization could accelerate rates of growth and maturation was tested in a field study with 12 paired plots representing relatively large variability in soil properties and landscape positions.The plots were located under conditions where preplant N fertilization reduced or avoided temporary N shortages for some plants but did not reduce for other plants early in the season.We measured corn heights to the youngest leaf collar,stages of growth and chlorophyll meter readings (CMRs). The added N advanced growth stages as well as increased corn heights and CMRs at any given time.Fertilization effects on corn heights,growth stages and ear weights were statistically significant (P<0.05) despite substantial variability associated with landscape.Reductions in growth due to a temporary shortage of N within a growth stage might be partially offset by longer periods of growth within that stage to physiological maturity.Temporary shortages of N,therefore,may produce symptoms of N deficiency in situations where subsequent additions of N should not be expected to increase yields.Recognition of these two somewhat different effects (i.e.,increase growth rates and advance growth stages) on corn growth could help to define N deficiency more precisely and to improve the accuracy of diagnosing N status in production agriculture.展开更多
Many studies have shown that chlorophyll meter readings （CMRs） can be used to diagnose deficiencies of nitrogen （N） during the growth of corn （Zea mays L.） in small-plot trials, but there is need to address addi...Many studies have shown that chlorophyll meter readings （CMRs） can be used to diagnose deficiencies of nitrogen （N） during the growth of corn （Zea mays L.） in small-plot trials, but there is need to address additional problems encountered when diagnoses are made in fields of the size managed in production agriculture. A noteworthy difference between smallplot trials and production agriculture is the extent to which the effects of N are confounded with the effects of other factors such as tillage, landscape, soil organic matter and moisture content. We illustrate how some of these factors can cause differences in the physiological age of plants and introduce errors in the diagnoses of N deficiencies. We suggest methods （measuring the height to the youngest leaf collar and assigning leaf numbers by using the first leaf with pubescence and the ear leaf as references to identify growth stages） for minimizing these errors. The simplified method of growth stage identification can be used to select appropriate plants and leaves for making diagnoses in fields and to distinguish the effects of N from the effects of other factors that influence plant growth.展开更多
基金Project supported by the Iowa Soybean Association,USA through the ISA On-Farm Network~(TM)
文摘Evidence that nitrogen (N) fertilization tends to accelerate maturation as well as increase rates of growth has received little attention when diagnosing N deficiencies in corn (Zea mays L.).Such a tendency could be a potential source of errors when the diagnosis is solely based on comparing plants with different rates of growth.Whether N fertilization could accelerate rates of growth and maturation was tested in a field study with 12 paired plots representing relatively large variability in soil properties and landscape positions.The plots were located under conditions where preplant N fertilization reduced or avoided temporary N shortages for some plants but did not reduce for other plants early in the season.We measured corn heights to the youngest leaf collar,stages of growth and chlorophyll meter readings (CMRs). The added N advanced growth stages as well as increased corn heights and CMRs at any given time.Fertilization effects on corn heights,growth stages and ear weights were statistically significant (P<0.05) despite substantial variability associated with landscape.Reductions in growth due to a temporary shortage of N within a growth stage might be partially offset by longer periods of growth within that stage to physiological maturity.Temporary shortages of N,therefore,may produce symptoms of N deficiency in situations where subsequent additions of N should not be expected to increase yields.Recognition of these two somewhat different effects (i.e.,increase growth rates and advance growth stages) on corn growth could help to define N deficiency more precisely and to improve the accuracy of diagnosing N status in production agriculture.
基金the Iowa Soybean Association, USA through the ISA On-Farm NetworkTM and Watershed Programming.
文摘Many studies have shown that chlorophyll meter readings （CMRs） can be used to diagnose deficiencies of nitrogen （N） during the growth of corn （Zea mays L.） in small-plot trials, but there is need to address additional problems encountered when diagnoses are made in fields of the size managed in production agriculture. A noteworthy difference between smallplot trials and production agriculture is the extent to which the effects of N are confounded with the effects of other factors such as tillage, landscape, soil organic matter and moisture content. We illustrate how some of these factors can cause differences in the physiological age of plants and introduce errors in the diagnoses of N deficiencies. We suggest methods （measuring the height to the youngest leaf collar and assigning leaf numbers by using the first leaf with pubescence and the ear leaf as references to identify growth stages） for minimizing these errors. The simplified method of growth stage identification can be used to select appropriate plants and leaves for making diagnoses in fields and to distinguish the effects of N from the effects of other factors that influence plant growth.
