The use of legume crops in maize rotation systems may decrease the need for nitrogen (N) fertilization and increase total output. The effect of previous crops (wheat, barley, lentil, Hungarian vetch, and fallow) and different N fertilization rates (0, 120, 160, 200, and 240 kg of N ha–1) on yield and N content of silage maize (Zea mays L.) were evaluated under irrigated conditions in Diyarbakır, Turkey. | Turk J Agric For 32 (2008) 513-520 © TÜBİTAK Response of Silage Maize (Zea mays L.) to Nitrogen Fertilizer after Different Crops in a Semi Arid Environment İsmail GÜL1,*, Mehmet YILDIRIM1, Cuma AKINCI1, İlhan DORAN2, Hasan KILIÇ3 1 University of Dicle, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crop, 21280 Diyarbakır - TURKEY 2 University of Dicle, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil, 21280 Diyarbakır - TURKEY 3 Southeastern Anatolian Agricultural Research Institute, Diyarbakır - TURKEY Received: Abstract: The use of legume crops in maize rotation systems may decrease the need for nitrogen (N) fertilization and increase total output. The effect of previous crops (wheat, barley, lentil, Hungarian vetch, and fallow) and different N fertilization rates (0, 120, –1 160, 200, and 240 kg of N ha ) on yield and N content of silage maize (Zea mays L.) were evaluated under irrigated conditions in Diyarbakır, Turkey, during the 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002 growing seasons. Dry matter yield varied between 10, and 16, kg ha–1. It was determined that Hungarian vetch was a suitable rotation crop, and that 200 kg of N ha–1 was the best N fertilization rate for silage maize production across years and N rates. Moreover, according to the previous crop × N fertilization rate interaction, the highest dry matter yield was obtained from 240 kg of N ha–1 after barley. Silage maize following Hungarian vetch in rotation did not respond to the application of more than 120 kg of N ha–1, in terms of dry matter and N yields, while in barley-maize and wheat-maize these 2 parameters increased in response to every level of N fertilization applied. Additionally, fallow-maize and wheat-maize did not respond to the application of more than 200 kg of N ha–1. The legumes showed potential as previous crops that could replace fallow and cereals in silage maize production by reducing the amount of N fertilizer used on silage maize without significantly .
