The corn response to the nitrogen fertilizing cultivated after pasture depends on of the species, straw amount, C: N rate, microbial population, climatic conditions and other factors. The study was aimed at evaluating the use of the green color intensity of the leaf (GCI), measured by the chlorophyll meter, as indicative for nitrogen fertilizing management sidedress in the corn crop, after B. decumbens Stapf pasture. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse conditions, in pots with 29 liters of a Red Latosol (Oxisol), with three corn plants per pot. The randomized blocks design was used, in 4x4 factorial arrangement, with five replications, constituted by four nitrogen rates (0, 50, 100 and 150mg dm-3 of soil) and four levels of B. decumbens straw (0, 5, 10 and 15Mg ha-1), applied in sidedressing. The N doses were splitting in three times: a) 1/3 in the seeding; b) 1/3 in the 4-5 leaves stage and c) 1/3 in the 7-8 leaves stage. The determinations of GCI of the leaf were made one day before and one week after the sidedress nitrogen fertilizing. The levels of B. decumbens straw only influenced GCI in the seven-eight leaves stage. The maintenance of larger GCI of the four-five leaves stage (46.6) to the eight-nine leaves (53.0) made possible the largest accumulation of the corn shoot dry matter. The monitoring of GCI can help in the evaluation of the N available for the corn during season.
Zea mays L.; SPAD; chlorophyll; nitrogen
