The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen doses upon production components of corn cultivated under a no-tillage system. Four nitrogen rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) and five cultivars (AG-9010, TRACTOR, DOW-8550, DKB-395 and AL-34) were used. For all treatments, except for the control 20, 115, 60 and 4 kg ha-1 of N, P(2)0(5), K2O and Zn were applied, respectively. The statistical design was the completely randomized block with four replications in a split plot scheme. The yield components studied were: plant population at harvest, ear length, number of grain rows per ear, ear number, and mass of 100 grains. The yield of the germoplasm varied from 1,900 kg ha-1 for the control to 5,662 kg ha-1 for the highest N dose (120 kg ha-1). For yield, it was observed that the hybrids DOW-8550 and AG-9010 were the most promising. It may be concluded that the economic return of the N fertilization can be reached with a 120 kg ha-1 dose. Both hybrids and cultivars used showed high efficiency in the use of the applied N, the hybrids being more responsive than the varieties.
cultivar; levels of fertilization; soil management
