Abstract
Abstract Optimizing agronomic efficiency (AE) of nitrogen (N) fertilizer use by crops and enhancing crop yields are challenges for tropical no-tillage systems since maintaining crop residues on the soil surface alters the nutrient supply to the system. Cover crops receiving N fertilizer can provide superior biomass, N cycling to the soil and plant residue mineralization. The aims of this study were to (i) investigate N application on forage cover crops or cover crop residues as a substitute for N sidedressing (conventional method) for maize and (ii) investigate the supply of mineral N in the soil and the rates of biomass decomposition and N release. The treatments comprised two species, i.e., palisade grass [ Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster] and ruzigrass [ Urochloa ruziziensis (R. Germ. and C.M. Evrard) Crins], and four N applications: (i) control (no N application), (ii) on live cover crops 35 days before maize seeding (35 DBS), (iii) on cover crop residues 1 DBS, and (iv) conventional method (N sidedressing of maize). The maximum rates of biomass decomposition and N release were in palisade grass. The biomass of palisade grass and ruzigrass were 81 and 47% higher in N application at 35 DBS compared with control in ruzigrass (7 Mg ha −1 ), and N release followed the pattern observed of biomass in palisade and ruzigrass receiving N 35 DBS (249 and 189 kg N ha −1 ). Mineral N in the soil increased with N application regardless of cover crop species. Maize grain yields and AE were not affected when N was applied on palisade grass 35 DBS or 1 DBS (average 13 Mg ha −1 and 54 kg N kg −1 maize grain yield) compared to conventional method. However, N applied on ruzigrass 35 DBS decreased maize grain yields. Overall, N fertilizer can be applied on palisade grass 35 DBS or its residues 1 DBS as a substitute for conventional sidedressing application for maize.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
N application at 35 DBS raised palisade grass biomass by 81% compared with control.
- Taxon
- palisade grass
Urochloa brizanthae1 - Treatment
- N application at 35 DBSe1
- Outcome
- biomasse1
- Direction
- highere1
- Value
- 81e1
- Comparator
- controle1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“The biomass of palisade grass and ruzigrass were 81 and 47% higher in N application at 35 DBS compared with control in ruzigrass (7 Mg ha −1 )”
Claim · model-written summary
N application at 35 DBS raised ruzigrass biomass by 47% compared with control.
Verbatim
e1“The biomass of palisade grass and ruzigrass were 81 and 47% higher in N application at 35 DBS compared with control in ruzigrass (7 Mg ha −1 )”
Claim · model-written summary
N release from palisade grass receiving N at 35 DBS was 249 kg N ha-1.
Verbatim
e2“N release followed the pattern observed of biomass in palisade and ruzigrass receiving N 35 DBS (249 and 189 kg N ha −1 )”
Claim · model-written summary
N release from ruzigrass receiving N at 35 DBS was 189 kg N ha-1.
Verbatim
e2“N release followed the pattern observed of biomass in palisade and ruzigrass receiving N 35 DBS (249 and 189 kg N ha −1 )”
Claim · model-written summary
N application increased mineral N in the soil regardless of cover crop species.
- Taxon
- cover crope3
- Treatment
- N applicatione3
- Outcome
- Mineral N in the soile3
- Direction
- increasede3
- Qualifier
- regardless of cover crop speciese3
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e3“Mineral N in the soil increased with N application regardless of cover crop species”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize grain yields and agronomic efficiency were not affected by N applied on palisade grass at 35 or 1 DBS compared with conventional sidedressing.
- Treatment
- N was applied on palisade grass 35 DBS or 1 DBSe4
- Outcome
- Maize grain yields and AEe4
- Direction
- not affectede4
- Comparator
- conventional methode4
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“Maize grain yields and AE were not affected when N was applied on palisade grass 35 DBS or 1 DBS (average 13 Mg ha −1 and 54 kg N kg −1 maize grain yield) compared to conventional method”
Claim · model-written summary
N applied on ruzigrass at 35 DBS decreased maize grain yields.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“However, N applied on ruzigrass 35 DBS decreased maize grain yields”
Claim · model-written summary
Biomass decomposition and N release rates were maximum in palisade grass.
- Taxon
- palisade grassUrochloa brizanthae6
- Outcome
- biomass decomposition and N releasee6
- Direction
- maximume6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“The maximum rates of biomass decomposition and N release were in palisade grass”
Claim · model-written summary
N fertilizer applied on palisade grass at 35 DBS or its residues at 1 DBS can substitute for conventional sidedressing for maize.
- Treatment
- N fertilizer can be applied on palisade grass 35 DBS or its residues 1 DBSe7
- Outcome
- substitute for conventional sidedressing applicatione7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“Overall, N fertilizer can be applied on palisade grass 35 DBS or its residues 1 DBS as a substitute for conventional sidedressing application for maize”
The same questions in other papers
Urochloa brizantha · nutrient: efficiency · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
1 reporting no difference from an alternative
- positive
nitrogen · growth · Urochloa brizantha (palisade grass)Positive and negative results
9 papers in the same direction as this paper · 1 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- positive
- positive
7 papers more in this group
See all 11 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.