Preflood N Bump: Rice fertility experts discuss hybrid response to increased nitrogen on heavy clay

摘要

Increasing yields on heavy clay soils by boosting preflood nitrogen (N) rates is not a hybrid-specific event. For years, it has been a well-documented observation in conventional rice by the university systems. With that in mind, why bother testing hybrid rice response to pre-flood N on heavy clay soils? Why not just apply the same recommendations used for varietal rice? Tim Walker, associate agronomist at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Miss., says, "Any type of rate responsework that we do, whether it's a hybrid or a conventional variety, we go well below and above where we think the recommendation should be," he says. "That gives us an opportunity not only to see the N responsiveness with respect to grain yield but also evaluate factors such as lodging and how much N is too much."