Response of early corn growth to fertilizer phosphorus rates and placement methods

Abstract

Previous research showed that applying fertilizer phosphorus (P) to the soil in concentrated subsurface bands increased P availability to crops compared to a surface application. Early growth responses of corn (Zea mays L.) plants were measured after 28 days of growth in pots in a greenhouse for single band, two single bands, injection, and surface fertilizer P placement methods. Fertilizer P was applied at the rates of 0, 12, and 24 mg P/kg soil for each method for three different soils. Shoot dry matter weight and nitrogen (N) and P uptake increased for all placement methods regardless of initial soil test P level. However, growth parameters were greater for the banded and injection methods. Response parameters were minimally influenced by the surface P application, but some fertilizer P from the surface application leached through small desiccation cracks after daily additions of water. This probably increased P availability slightly. Shoot dry matter production efficiency and shoot N/P ratio were higher for the surface P placement method and for the unfertilized P treatments. Overall growth responses to fertilizer P rates were less effective in soils with higher initial soil test P levels.

Effect of Soil Phosphorus on Leaf Development and Senescence Dynamics of Field‐Grown Maize

“…Nevertheless, because leaf area responded to P stress during vegetative growth, maize absorbed less PAR (7–10%) in low P conditions when canopy development allowed maximum light interception. The early sensitivity of maize growth to P limitation was previously reported by Barry and Miller (1989), El‐Hamdi and Woodward (1995), Etchebest et al (1998), and Gavito and Miller (1998) These works and our findings suggest that P plays a key role in the morphogenetic and leaf expansion processes, which take place early in maize development.…”

Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Level on Dry Matter Yield at Different Growth Stages of Popcorn in South Saurashtra Region of Gujarat, India

“…Initially, leaf rather than the number is increases but the numbers of leaves are subsequently increased by sustained leaf production over a longer period. However, it was noticed that the dry mass of the leaves sample with the highest phosphorus dose of 75 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 was found significantly higher than the other lower level, similar result seen by El-Hamdi and Woodard (1995) and Lu and Miller (1993), where the increase of phosphorus dose, increased the percentage of content of nutrients, the dry matter accumulation significantly increased by maximum application of phosphorus. Banerjee et al, (2006), Arya and Singh (2011) in maize, The present findings are within the close vicinity of those reported with phosphorus by Padmaja et al, (1999), Raja (2001, Sahoo and Mahapatra (2004), Pal (2013), Babak et al, (2012), Mehta (2002), Chabi et al, (2008), Gokmen et al, (2001), Kumar (2009), Kanannavar (2013), Prathyusha andHemalatha (2013) in popcorn.…”

Effect of phosphorus and zinc levels on maize (Zea mays L.) forage production grown in calcareous soil in Peshawar valley

“…Greater LAI for more P and Zn might be related to the fact that P speeds up root growth and expansion and Zn boosted enzymes and ATP generation. These results are supported by [20] who concluded that maize leaf area index increased as phosphorus levels increased.…”