Know Your Yields! Importance of Accurate Yield Records for N Management Algorithms for Corn
Although there typically is a poor relationship between yield and optimum N rates for corn across diverse sets of fields, many N management algorithms and models include yield estimates as part of the equations. Yield predictions are used to determine end-of-season yield and estimate total N uptake. This is important as information on total N uptake, together with estimates of soil N supply through organic matter mineralization, crop rotation credits, manure-based N supply, and losses of N from application to close to crop harvest are important inputs for N management. Here we focus on two questions: (1) how important is it to be able to accurately predict yield for within-field N management for corn?; and (2) how can we most accurately assess and predict yield in the first place?
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