Optimizing Corn Production in Tennessee: Enhancing Yield Potential and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Corn production is critical to the livelihood of producers and consumers, alike. Through global and domestic production of corn grain, every-day products are made possible, including, but not limited to food products, livestock/animal feed, and ethanol.

Corn is considered a high nitrogen feeder; thus, fertilizer N is a high direct cost input for growers. The use of nitrogen for production is essential; however, there are repercussions associated with the overuse and underuse of fertilizer N agronomically, economically, and environmentally. Fertilizer recommendations vary per geographical area and the nitrogen recommendation for Tennessee was developed decades ago. While the recommendation and reliance on nitrogen in a production system remains unchanged, genetics and hybrid selection continue to improve, thus the need for reassessment. The interconnection of production decisions, such as water input, hybrid selection, and nitrogen application rate, have the potential to influence the end results of yield, quality, and input efficiency. The study objectives include: determine the effect of water management, hybrid selection, nitrogen application rate, and the potential interactions thereof, on the agronomic yield and quality metrics of harvested grain as well as evaluate multiple nitrogen use efficiency indices in relation to water management, hybrid selection, and nitrogen application rate, to gain insight into the influence management practices have on the efficient utilization of nitrogen. The study aims to provide growers and researchers insight into the interworking of efficient management practice decision making in a corn production system in west Tennessee.