Corn Hybrid Response to Starter Fertilizer in a No-Tillage, Dryland Environment

Abstract

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...

Tillage Effects on Corn Response to Starter Fertilizer

“…Neither starter fertilizer nor tillage affected the number of days to reach R6 in either year. Gordon et al (9) also observed that starter fertilizer had no effect on the number of days in the grain fill period from R1 to R6.…”

“…Previous studies have concluded that starter fertilizer often reduces the number of days required for plants to reach silking (9,17). In this study the number of days to reach mid‐silk (R1) was reduced by starter fertilizer in 2001, but not 2000.…”

Agri-environmental models using Mehlich-III soil phospho rus saturation index for corn in Quebec

“…Therefore, a hybrid that is less sensitive to banded P could be selected. Some corn hybrids responded positively to P starter fertilizer even in high P testing soils (Teare and Wright 1990;Gordon et al 1997). However, no data are available in Quebec on the interaction between corn hybrids and P requirements.…”

Corn Response to Starter Fertilizer With and Without AVAIL

“…Starter fertilizer refers to a small amount of fertilizer that is applied near the seed during the planting process. Numerous studies (8,9,12,16,18) have documented that starter fertilizers containing P will often result in early growth responses of corn, but these early growth responses seldom result in corresponding increases in grain yield if soil test P levels are optimal or above. Nonetheless, the use of starter fertilizers is still a common practice among corn growers, and AVAIL is being promoted and used as a fertilizer additive in these starter fertilizers.…”