Impact of in-furrow fertilizers on winter wheat grain yield and mineral concentration

Abstract

Placement of fertilizer in the seed furrow to increase nutrient availability is a common practice in row-crop production. While in-furrow application of fertilizer is widely utilized in the production of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), there is a lack of work evaluating new formulations and nutrient combinations that are available. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of in-furrow fertilizer products and combinations of products on winter wheat grain yield, nitrogen and mineral concentrations. Trials were conducted across five site-years in central Oklahoma using 11 fertilizer formulations placed in-furrow at the time of planting. In locations that soil test phosphorus (STP) levels or potassium were above sufficiency, the use of in-furrow fertilizers did not improve yield over the control. Inconsistency of response was noted at locations where STP levels were below the critical threshold. While one location showed no response to the addition of P regardless of source, two other locations had significant yield responses from three or more P-containing fertilizers. The addition of both sulphur and zinc resulted in increased yield over the base product at one low STP location. Nutrient concentrations were also influenced in nutrient-limited soils; however, no trends in response were present. Based upon the results of this study, the application of in-furrow fertilizer has the potential to increase winter wheat grain yield and nutrient concentration, when soil nutrients are limiting. As expected the addition of fertilizer when soil test levels are at or above a sufficiency did not increase grain yield.

Too Salty or Toxic for Use: A Tale of Starter Fertilizers in Agronomic Cropping Systems

“…The importance of fertilizer placement is not expected to be the same for N as for P and K due to their different chemical properties determined by different soil test levels [34,36,39]. This, in turn, affects crop response under various fertilizer sources/types, placements, and rates (Table 1).…”

“…In-furrow fertilization did not improve yield over the control when STP or STK were above sufficiency. Still, it can potentially increase winter wheat grain yield and nutrient concentration when soil nutrients are limited [39].…”

“…From the fertilizer scientist's perspective, improper fertilizer recommendation, placement, and management in crop production may become the primary factors limiting global plant stand and its establishment, with the most substantial consequences in crop yields. Therefore, efforts to improve crop stand and lessen the severity and incidence of salt injury, pH changes in the seed germination zone, and ammoniacal-N toxicity needs balanced starter fertilization, which becomes the fulcrum for sustainable global food crop production [5,6,11,19,38,39]. Knowledge of the importance of starter fertilizers and their implications as influenced by frequent environmental conditions and management practices remains essential for sustainable and socio-economics of human livelihoods for successful global food production and productivity under climate change.…”

Spatiotemporal Variation and Influencing Factors of Grain Yield in Major Grain-Producing Counties: A Comparative Study of Two Provinces from China

“…However, abnormal weather conditions such as droughts, floods, and hailstorms can bring many negative effects [35][36][37]. Furthermore, with the gradual application of modern and digital technologies in agricultural production [38][39][40][41][42], smart agriculture plays an increasingly significant role in food security. The previous studies of influencing factors focused on the natural environment, socio-economic factors, or input factors, thus lacking a comprehensive consideration of different dimensions and hindering the quantitative identification of the direction and intensity of factors.…”