Economic nitrogen doses via fertigation for corn cultivation in a semiarid environment

Producers in the northeastern semiarid region of Brazil have been cultivating irrigated corn. The commercialized product comprises mainly green ears and silage. However, irrigation crops for dry grain has questioned regarding costs price competitiveness relation to same non-irrigated cultivated other regions. In recent years, use drip tapes fertigation spread among corn producers region. aim this study was determine N dose, via fertigation, which provides maximum economic production grain, two crop seasons (summer winter), Brazil. experimental design performed randomized blocks, with four replications. both crops, treatments consisted doses (0, 80, 160, 240 kg ha-1) applied form urea. hybrid (Bt Feroz), content evaluated terms leaves, yield, gross net incomes, rate return, profitability index. Independent season, yield (5,441.03 highest when fertigated a dose 104.05 ha-1 N. incomes were obtained 80 summer (R$ 1,190.78 160 winter 2,757.54 ha-1). more favorable grain.