Economic viability of doses and split-applications of nitrogen fertilization in corn crop in a eutrophic Red Latosol

Nitrogen is the nutrient that is most absorbed by the corn crop, with the most complex management, and has the highest share on the cost of corn production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the economic viability of different rates and split-applications of nitrogen fertilization, as such...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Duete, Robson Rui Cotrim, Muraoka, Takashi, Silva, Edson Cabral da, Trivelin, Paulo César Ocheuze, Ambrosano, Edmilson José
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2009
Country:Brasil
Institution:Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM)
Repository:Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy (Online)
Language:Portuguese
OAI Identifier:oai:periodicos.uem.br/ojs:article/6646
Online Access:http://www.periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciAgron/article/view/6646
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Zea mays
production cost
gross revenue
beneficial/cost
urea.
custo de produção
receita bruta
benefício/custo
uréia.
Description
Summary:Nitrogen is the nutrient that is most absorbed by the corn crop, with the most complex management, and has the highest share on the cost of corn production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the economic viability of different rates and split-applications of nitrogen fertilization, as such as urea, in the corn crop in a eutrophic Red Latosol (Oxisol). The study was carried out in the Experimental Station of the Regional Pole of the Sao Paulo Northwest Agribusiness Development (APTA), in Votuporanga, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with nine treatments and four replications, consisting of five N rates: 0, 55, 95, 135 and 175 kg ha-1, 15 kg ha-1 applied in the seeding and the remainder in top dressing: 40 and 80 kg ha-1 N at forty days after seeding (DAS), or ½ + ½ at 20 and 40 DAS; 120 kg ha-1 N split in ½ + ½ or 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 at 20, 40 or 60 DAS; 160 kg ha-1 N split in ¼ + 3/8 + 3/8 or ¼ + ¼ + ¼ + ¼ at 20, 40, 60 and 80 DAS. The application of 135 kg ha-1 of N split in three times provided the best benefit/cost ratio. The non-application of N provided the lowest economic return, proving to be unviable.