A dryland corn (Zea mays L.) production system that has gained popularity in Kansas involves planting as early in the spring as possible so that pollination occurs under more favorable moisture and temperature conditions. Cool soils that occur with early planting in high‐residue production systems can reduce nutrient uptake. Starter fertilizer applications have been effective in enhancing nutrient uptake even on soils high in available nutrients. Corn hybrids may differ in their response to starter fertilizer. The objective of this study was to evaluate corn hybrid response to starter fertilizer in a no‐tillage, dryland environment. This field experiment was conducted from 1993 to 1995 at the North Central Kansas Experiment Field, located near Belleville, on a Crete silt loam soil (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Pachic Arguistoll). Treatments consisted of five corn hybrids and two starter fertilizer treatments. Fertilizer treatments were starter fertilizer (30 lb N and 30 lb P2O5/acre) or no starter fertilizer. Starter fertilizer was applied 2 in. to the side of and 2 in. below the seed at planting. In all 3 yr of the experiment, grain yield, maturity, and total P uptake (grain plus stover at maturity) were affected by a hybrid × starter fertilizer interaction. Starter fertilizer consistently increased yields, reduced the number of thermal units needed from emergence to midsilk, and increased total P uptake of Pioneer 3346, Dekalb 636, and Dekalb 591, but had no effect on ICI 8599 and Pioneer 3563. When averaged over the 3 yr of the experiment, starter fertilizer increased grain yield of responding hybrids (hybrids in which the 3‐yr average yield was increased by the use of starter fertilizer) by 13 bu/acre. Starter fertilizer increased V6 stage above ground dry matter production and N and P uptake of all hybrids evaluated. Ear leaf N and P concentrations also were increased by starter fertilizer, regardless of hybrid. Results of this work show that starter fertilizer can increase grain yield and be feasible for some hybrids, whereas yields of other hybrids are not affected. Research Question Conservation tillage production systems are being used by an increasing number of farmers in the central Great Plains. A dryland corn production system that has gained popularity in Kansas over the past few years involves planting as early in spring as possible so that pollination occurs in June when temperatures are more moderate and moisture is more favorable than in July when conditions are hot and dry. When this production system is used in high‐residue situations, the risk of cool soils interfering with root growth and nutrient uptake is greater. Corn hybrids differ in rooting characteristics that influence nutrient uptake and may differ in their response to starter fertilizer. The objective of this study was to evaluate starter fertilizer effects on yield, growth, and nutrient uptake of corn hybrids grown in a no‐tillage, dryland environment on a soil high in available P. Literature Summary No‐tillage systems have prove...

Some winter crops sown in no-tillage system can represent an important alternative to nutrient cycling. The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of dry matter (DM) and accumulation of nutrients for winter cultivation in the West of Paraná. The experimental design was a randomized block, with four treatments and six replications. The treatments were represented by four different winter crops (oat IPR 126, crambe FMS Brilhante, radish common cultivar and wheat BRS Taruma), and the DM, the contents of C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and C/N ratio in DM and nutrients accumulation were determied The dry matter production was higher for radish with 4.929,14 kg ha-1. The different winter crops used influenced the contents of C, N and C/N ratio. The other studied characteristics were not influenced. Among the four winter cultivation the radish presented larger production of dry matter. The chemical composition was influenced by the cultivations, the contents of C, N and C/N ratio, consequently in the contribution differentiated in the area. The winter cultivation in the studied conditions influences the accumulation of magnesium.

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No‐till planting winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) following summer crops requires different crop management than continuous wheat. A 3‐yr study was conducted to determine if increased seeding rates and N fertilizer rates were required to maximize wheat grain yields following grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Wheat seeding rates of 67, 101, 134, and 168 kg ha−1 and N treatments of 0, 45, 90, and 134 kg N ha−1 were applied to areas previously planted to grain sorghum and soybean. Grain yield increased as seeding rate increased in all 3 yr, with yield optimized at seeding rates of ≥134 kg ha−1 regardless of the previous crop. Wheat response to N varied with previous crop, with wheat following grain sorghum requiring 21 kg ha−1 more N to maximize grain yields compared with wheat planted after soybean. These previous‐crop effects were attributed to grain sorghum producing higher levels of residue and this residue immobilizing a greater amount of available N than soybean residue. Leaf N content decreased as seeding rates increased and increased as N rates increased. Leaf N content had a similar response to N rates and previous crops as grain yields. Grain N content increased as applied N increased. Results of this study indicate that different seeding and N rates are required to optimize wheat yields when no‐till planted after grain sorghum and soybean.