Previous research has identified several factors that may influence corn response to starter fertilizer including hybrid genetics and planting date. However research examining the influences of these management factors on corn response to starter fertilizer has produced inconsistent results. The objective of this experiment was to determine if hybrid maturity and planting date affect corn yield responses to starter fertilizer. The experiment was conducted near Columbia, MO in 2000 and 2001 and consisted of eight hybrids with and without starter fertilizer. Hybrids were selected for a range in maturity. Starter fertilizer was placed 2 inches to the side and 2 inches below the seed at a rate of 30 lb of N per acre and 30 lb of P2O5 per acre. Starter fertilizer increased plant height for four of the five planting date‐year combinations and reduced the number of days from planting to midsilk for all five combinations. The magnitude of the changes in plant height and number of days from planting to midsilk due to starter fertilizer application were greater for April planting dates than for May planting dates. Starter fertilizer increased corn grain yield in two of the five planting date‐year combinations. Planting date had no effect on the magnitude of the yield response from starter fertilizer. Hybrid maturity affected plant height and days to midsilk responses to starter fertilizer for several planting dates. In instances when hybrid maturity affected the response to starter fertilizer, later‐maturing hybrids responded more than early maturing hybrids. There was no effect of hybrid maturity on yield response to starter fertilizer.

Tillage selection has been identified as a factor that may influence corn response to starter fertilizer. The objective of this experiment was to determine if tillage practices affect corn growth and grain yield response to starter fertilizer. The experiment was conducted near Columbia, MO in 2000 and 2001. The experimental design included three hybrids, with and without tillage and with and without starter fertilizer (30 lb N/acre and 13 lb P/acre), placed 2 inches to the side and 2 inches below the seed. Tillage treatment by starter fertilizer interactions were not significant except for plant height measured eight weeks after planting in 2001. Tillage did not affect corn response to starter fertilizer. No‐tillage plots were 5.7 and 3.5 inches taller at 6 weeks after planting than tilled plots in 2000 and 2001. At 8 weeks after planting no‐tillage plots were 7.5 and 6.0 inches taller than tilled plots in 2000 and 2001. No‐tillage plots reached silking 2.3 and 1.6 days earlier in 2000 and 2001 than tilled plots. Starter fertilizer also affected plant height and silking date, but to a lesser extent than tillage. The effects of starter fertilizer on plant height and crop development never translated into an effect on grain yield. We found no evidence that growers who use no‐tillage are more likely to see yield responses from starter fertilizer than growers who use some other form of tillage.