Enhanced Growth of Drip Irrigated Sweet Corn Using a Nitrification Inhibitor

Abstract

A field experiment using subsurface drip irrigation was conducted at the Maricopa Agricultural Center on a Casa Grande sandy loam to evaluate the effect of varying nitrogen rates on the growth and yield of 'Jubilee' sweet corn when applied with, and without the nitrification inhibitor, nitrapyrin (N-Serveᴿ). N treatments of 89, 134 and 2671bs. N/acre were applied as ammonium sulfate to one meter miniplots in three split applications between the V2 and the V10 growth stages. Individual N-Serveᴿ application rates were 0.5 lbs/acre. All solutions were applied through buried, perforated PVC tubing to simulate application through the buried drip irrigation system. The inclusion of N-Serveᴿ significantly increased dry matter accumulation, number of total ears and number of marketable ears /plant at all N levels. Plant tissue analysis suggested that enhanced uptake of ammonium -N as well as reduced leaching of nitrate-N contributed to this growth response to N- Serveᴿ.