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Increasing Nitrogen Efficiency with Variable Nitrogen Application on Corn
| Name | Pawel Wiatrak | | Situation | High fuel oil and fertilizer costs are forcing farms to consider the reduced or variable N fertilizer application in order to reduce crop inputs and maximize yields. Additionally, considerable soil variation occurs within and across production fields in South Carolina which has a major impact on fertilizer management strategies. Mobile nutrients, such as nitrogen (N), are stored differently as soil texture varies. Therefore, uniform application of N fertilizer over the entire field can be both costly and environmentally questionable due to nutrient leaching and risk of groundwater pollution. | | Response | The research coordinated by Dr. Pawel Wiatrak, together with Dr. Ahmad Khalilian and Will Henderson, was started in 2007 to improve nitrogen use efficiency in corn through optical sensing technology and variable rate application with the aim of increasing the farm sustainability and developing environmentally sound corn production system. This project will help to develop an algorithm (model) for nitrogen application on-the-go in corn for different soil textures using the EC and optical-sensing technology and, therefore, increase nitrogen efficiency and corn profitability under dryland conditions. A commercially available soil electrical conductivity (EC) measurement system (Veris Technologies 3100) is be used to identify soil texture variations and create soil zone maps using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The nitrogen efficiency for corn is being evaluated under different tillage systems and nitrogen rates. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) measurements, using Green Seeker optical sensors, are used for mapping plant growth. | | Impact | The development of variable nitrogen application in corn based on soil electrical conductivity and optical-sensing technology will improve nitrogen efficiency in corn, reduce the cost of applied fertilizer, and help to develop economically sustainable and environmentally sound corn production systems. The research in the Midwest showed a $36 to $39/acre profit using variable N application in corn production compared to farmers practice. With about 390,000 acres of corn planted in South Carolina in 2007, it would save farmers from $14.0 million to $15.2 million. In addition, this technology could be used for fertilizer managements in other crops. Benefits from this project are directly transferable to other regions of the United States. This project will help to significantly increase the collaboration with specialists in precision agriculture, soil fertility, plant physiology, and other disciplines at Clemson University and other institutions in the U.S. |
Last update6/2/2008
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