Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Ziadi, N
• Brassard, M
• Belanger, G
• Cambouris, A.N
• Tremblay, N
• Nolin, M.C
• Claessens, A
• Parent, L.E

Titel

Critical Nitrogen Curve and Nitrogen Nutrition Index for Corn in Eastern Canada

Ist Teil von

• Agronomy journal, 2008, Vol.100 (2), p.271-276

Ort / Verlag

Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy

Erscheinungsjahr

2008

Quelle

Wiley-Blackwell Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Plant-based diagnostic methods of N nutrition require the critical N concentration (Nc) to be defined, that is the minimum N concentration necessary to achieve maximum growth. A critical N curve (Nc = 34.0W-0.37 with W being shoot biomass in Mg DM ha-1), based on whole plant N concentration, was determined for corn (Zea mays L.) in France. Our objectives were to validate this critical N curve in eastern Canada and to assess its plausibility to estimate the level of N nutrition in corn. Shoot biomass and N concentration were determined weekly during the growing season at three sites for 2 yr (2004 and 2005); four to seven N treatments were used at each site. Data points were divided into two groups representing either nonlimiting or limiting N conditions according to significant differences in shoot biomass at each sampling date. All data points included in the limiting N group were under the critical N curve and most data points of the nonlimiting N group were on or above the critical N curve, hence confirming the validity of the critical N curve determined in France. The nitrogen nutrition index (NNI), calculated as the measured N concentration divided by the predicted Nc, ranged from 0.30 to 1.35. A significant relationship between relative grain yield (RY) and NNI (RY = -0.11 + 1.17 NNI if NNI < 0.93 and RY = 0.98 if NNI > 0.93; R2 = 0.89) was determined. The critical N curve from France is valid in eastern Canada and the NNI calculated from that curve is a reliable indicator of the level of N stress during the growing season of corn.