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Response of Corn to Small Amounts of Fertilizer Placed with the Seed: I. Greenhouse Studies 1
Author(s) -
Miller M. H.,
Bates T. E.,
Singh D.,
Baweja A. S.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1971.00021962006300030005x
Subject(s) - fertilizer , agronomy , greenhouse , potash , seeding , mathematics , biology
The effects of a complete NPK fertilizer banded with the seed of corn ( Zea mays L.) were compared with those of larger amounts banded 3.8 cm to the side and below the seed. With the side band there was little uptake of applied P at the fourth week after seeding, and differences in growth favoured fertilizer with the seed up to the seventh week. Distance from the seed and toxicity of the higher fertilizer concentrations in the side band are suggested as reasons for the difference. Potassium banded with the seed added to the response obtained with N and P in one out of three trials. A small percentage of K is believed desirable in fertilizer applied with the seed, except on high‐K soils. When fertilizer was sprayed on the seed only, the response was small compared to that with the same concentration sprayed in a band across the seed and soil. Considering the small amount of fertilizer on the seed, the response was large, however, and leads to speculation on the effect of coating seed with fertilize. When a 6‐10.5‐5 fertilizer was banded with the seed at rates above 56 kg/ha in 91‐cm rows, there was an appreciable delay in emergence. The main advantage from fertilizer with the seed is the early growth response. High rates which delay emergence would therefore cancel the advantages which have been demonstrated.