HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yibirin, H. Articles by Eckert, D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Yibirin, H. Articles by Eckert, D. Agricola Articles by Yibirin, H. Articles by Eckert, D.

Corn Production as Affected by Daily Fertilization with Ammonium, Nitrate, and Phosphorus

School of Natural Resources, Ohio Agric. Res. and Dev. Center, Wooster, OH 44691

J. W. Johnson and D. Eckert

School of Natural Resources, Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH 43210

*Corresponding author (hyibirin{at}magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu).

ABSTRACT

Manipulation of N fertilization to control NH⁺₄/NO^-₃ ratios in the soil can affect corn (Zea mays L.) growth and yield. Field study of these effects, however, has been difficult to conduct because nitrification of NH⁺₄ and/or NO^-₃ leaching often occurs during the growing season. The objectives of this 4-yr field experiment were to investigate the effects of daily fertilization with various N sources and P on corn growth and yield. Pioneer 3343 was fertilized with solutions of urea (U), NH₄Cl, Ca(NO₃)₂(CN), or U + CN (1:1 N ratio) with and without a solution of H₃PO₄. Solutions were applied to the root zone with a porous pipe subirrigation system. Nitrogen sources caused changes in KCl-extractable soil NH⁺₄ and NO^-₃. Dry matter accumulation was not affected by N source at any stage of corn development. The effects of N source on N uptake, P uptake, and root growth varied by year, showing no consistent superiority of any of the N sources used. Corn yield was larger when NO^-₃ was included as an N source (CN or U + CN) than when only U was used in 1991. In the next two years, yield was not affected by N source; in the last year, NH⁺₄ (U or NH₄Cl) increased yield compared with CN. There was little correlation between yield and root growth, N uptake, or P uptake. Overall, no clear difference for maximizing corn growth and yield was observed between NH⁺₄, NO^-₃, or the mixture NH⁺₄ + NO^-₃.

Salaries and research support provided by State and Federal funds appropriated to the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State Univ. Manuscript 59-95.

Received for publication April 17, 1995.