Organic Fertilization in Maize Cropping Systems: Measures to Reduce N Losses

Dear colleagues,

Maize is one of the most important crops around the world. It is used as staple food for humans as well as a major source of both grain feed and silage fodder for livestock, widely used as a feedstock for the production of ethanol fuel and for methane production in biogas plants. Starch from maize can also be made into plastics and many other chemical products.

In many regions, organic fertilizers (e.g., products derived from human and animal excreta, composted materials, and crop residues) are a significant nutrient source in maize production systems. However, maize is a crop with a rather low growth rate during the early seedling stage after germination, and especially nitrogen losses from organic fertilizers might be substantial during this period. In many field situations, ammonia emissions to the atmosphere shortly after application of organic fertilizers and nitrate leaching after microbial mineralization/nitrification has occurred are obviously the most predominant processes. In recent decades, different approaches have been developed to minimize these losses and introduced into farm practice.

This Special Issue intends to give a broad overview focusing on pot and field experiments with maize where various technical measures (e.g., band application, injection) or usage of additives (e.g., acids, nitrification inhibitors) have been investigated to reduce any kind of N losses from applied organic fertilizers. Furthermore, review papers as well as opinion statements are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Hans-Werner Olfs
Guest Editor

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