Variable-rate nitrogen fertilisation to improve silage maize yield and crude protein using APSIM modelling
Iris Vogeler
A B * , Christof Kluß B and Friedhelm Taube B
A
B
Abstract
Precision nitrogen (N) fertilisation, which considers variability in both near-future soil N supply and crop N demand, enables reductions in fertiliser use at the field level, while maintaining high yields and high crude protein (CP) content, and minimising N losses.
To determine optimum N fertilisation rates for silage maize (Zea mays) based on variability in soil organic carbon (SOC) and plant available water (PAW) of a 20-ha field, a simulation study using the APSIM model was set up.
APSIM was initially tested under Northern European conditions using measurements of biomass, CP and N leaching losses. The model was subsequently applied to determine optimal N rates, taking into account variability in SOC and PAW through different fertilisation scenarios. Model outputs were then used to calculate the required N rates to achieve a target CP of 6.6%, which is the critical value for maximising yield.
Compared to a blanket N application across the field, variable N rate application generally increased the proportion of the field achieving the target CP and reduced overall field-scale N leaching.
Process-based models like APSIM offer a valuable tool for determining optimal N fertilisation rates based on variability in soil properties. However, field testing is essential to validate the effectiveness of this approach under real conditions.
The simulations highlight that in sandy soils with high mineralisation potential due to past high organic matter inputs, N fertilisation should be avoided to meet the requirements of given environmental standards for water protection in the European Union.
Keywords: field-scale impacts, nitrate leaching, Northern Europe, plant available water, precision fertilisation, soil organic carbon, spatial variability.
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