Maize biomass yield variations due to diverse nitrogen applications using Aquacrop

Abstract

In the quest to increase crop yields and production intensity to meet the demands of a growing global population, the responsible use of nitrogen (N) applications is paramount. Excessive application of these fertilizers results in economic losses, environmental pollution and reduced N-use efficiency. To address this challenge, precision agriculture techniques offer promising solutions. This study explored the relationships among applied N, maize crop parameters and the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) to optimize N application usage and crop performance. The AquaCrop model was used to simulate water productivity and plant parameters accurately. The research establishes equations between the NNI and maize parameters, enabling the use of AquaCrop to simulate crop responses to varying N levels. The results demonstrate that AquaCrop effectively simulates more than 95% of the biomass changes. The findings suggest that applying N based on presented equations optimized the use of N applications, thereby mitigating economic losses and environmental impacts.