TITLE:
Soil Nitrogen as Nitrate (N-NO3) and Fertilization Based on Soil Supply and Corn Demand in rhodic Luvisols of Campeche, Mexico
AUTHORS:
Jorge Humberto Ramírez-Silva, Alejandro Cano-González, Nelda Guadalupe Uzcanga-Pérez, Genovevo Ramírez-Jaramillo
KEYWORDS:
Soil Fertility, Efficiency Factor, Urea, Arable Depth
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.12,
December
17,
2025
ABSTRACT: In Campeche Mexico, corn production is particularly very important due to its large area of medium and high-yield potential. For any plan production, soil fertility needs to be understood considering that all nutrients extracted from the soil and exported to the harvested crops need replenishment. The fertilizer should be exactly as required. Current fertilization practices are based only on local experiences without details. This is the case of Nitrogen (N), a highly demanding nutrient for corn in the rhodic Luvisols of Campeche. This study aimed to recommend the best amount of N (kg∙ha−1) for corn production keeping in mind the Soil N SUPPLY and the N-Corn-DEMAND in five locations with rhodic Luvisols in Campeche. Nine individual samples were taken in each location considering the first arable depth of the soil, which ranged from 16 to 24 cm. N-NO3 was the form of N quantified in ppm taking 20 to 40 ppm as the optimum. The amount of N-NO3, in the soil as ppm, was converted into kg∙ha−1 (Soil-Supply). With the Corn-Demand of 100 kg∙ha−1 of N for a target Yield of 5 t∙ha−1. The dose of N (kg∙ha−1) was calculated with the formula: Demand-Supply/Ef. The Efficiency Factor (Ef) related to the efficiency of fertilization were 0.8 and 0.4 for efficient irrigation and rainfed conditions respectively. The amount of UREA was calculated accordingly. The recommended N Dose (kg∙ha−1) for the locations were the next for a 0.8 Ef (irrigation): DZ (95.5), VG (91.55), HE (75.38), EZ (71.75) and KA (69.86). Under rainfed conditions, the above values doubled because the efficiency of fertilization diminished substantially due to uncontrolled external factors and the losses need to be compensated with extra fertilization. The amount of Urea (kg∙ha−1) recommended are the next: 207.7, 199.0, 163.9, 156.0, 151.9 for an Ef of 0.8 and the double for rainfed conditions with an Ef of 0.40. Technical and scientific knowledge needs to be developed.