Question

Which crop removes maximum N from the soil?

• A. Barley
• B. Wheat
• C. Maize
• D. Oats

Hint:

C4 crops like Maize and Sugarcane have high photosynthetic rates, which produce massive amounts of biomass. This rapid growth requires large quantities of macronutrients, making them some of the heaviest nutrient-feeding crops in agriculture.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Different crops have varying nutrient demands depending on their biomass production, root depth, growth habit, and yield potential.
Cereals are generally heavy feeders of primary macronutrients, especially Nitrogen (N).
The total N removed by a crop is the product of its total dry matter yield (grain plus straw) and the N concentration in its tissues.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us compare the nutrient uptake patterns of the listed cereal crops:
Barley, Wheat, and Oats are C3 winter cereals.
They have a relatively shorter stature, lower biomass output, and lower average yield potentials compared to C4 tropical cereals.
On average, a high-yielding wheat crop removes about $100 - 140\text{ kg N/ha}$.
Maize (C): This is a C4 summer cereal characterized by exceptionally high photosynthetic efficiency, a robust root system, rapid vegetative growth, and a massive dry matter output (both grain and stover).
Because of its high yield potential and large biomass, maize is a highly demanding crop.
A single high-yielding maize crop can remove upwards of $150 - 200\text{ kg N/ha}$ from the soil, which is significantly higher than wheat, barley, or oats under similar management conditions.
Therefore, maize removes the maximum amount of Nitrogen among the choices listed.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Maize removes the maximum amount of Nitrogen from the soil, which corresponds to option (C).