California Crop Fertilization Guidelines

UC Davis
A collaboration between CDFA, FREP and UC Davis
 

Silage Corn Nitrogen Uptake and Partitioning

The Fertilization guidelines can also be found on the UC Davis Nutrient Management website .

Seasonal N Uptake

Season N Uptake Curve Graph

Nitrogen uptake curve of silage corn grown on three dairies in the Modesto area. Uptake was determined by harvesting the aboveground biomass at different times during corn development. Corn plants took up little N until they reached the 6-leaf stage (V6). Between the 6-leaf and the milk stage (R3), however, N uptake rates were high. When corn reached the tasseling stage (VT), it had taken up 60% or more of the total N. [2].


Nitrogen Partitioning

Nitrogen partitioning pie chart

Almost the entire aboveground biomass is removed when silage corn is harvested. We estimated that less than 10% of the aboveground N is left in the field with the stubble.


Nitrogen Removed at Harvest

Nitrogen removed with harvested Silage Corns. More information can be found here [2].

Location Years Removal (lbs N/ton @ 70% moisture) Source
    Mean Range  
California 2014 7.39 6 - 8.4 [3]
California 1997-2011 7.62 5 - 10.4 [4]
Weighted Average 7.56 5 - 10.4  

Links


References

  1. Geisseler, D., 2016. Nitrogen concentrations in harvested plant parts -A literature overview. Report to the Kings River Watershed Coalition.
  2. Geisseler, D., Lazicki, P.A., Pettygrove, G.S., Ludwig, B., Bachand, P.A.M., Horwath, W.R., 2012. Nitrogen dynamics in irrigated forage systems fertilized with liquid dairy manure. Agronomy Journal 104, 897-907.
  3. Heguy, J., Silva-del-Rio, N., 2014. 2014 Corn Silage Audit.
  4. Robinson, P., 2011. Assays of individual samples of California feedstuffs.