Influence of nitrogen and potassium applications on the early growth and development of maize (Zea mays L.)

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Date
2000
Authors
Emmanuel, Willie President
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: It is well known that appropriate band applications of N and/or K can result in optimum early growth and development of maize. Two pot experiments were conducted in a glasshouse at the University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein to determine the application levels at which the above mentioned phenomena occur. The first experiment was conducted to determine the influence of band placed N and/or K on the early growth and development of maize, while the second experiment was set up to determine the influence of K placement through banding, topdressing and a combination of banding and topdressing on the early growth and development of maize. The first experiment was conducted from January to March 1999 with the cultivar PAN 6479. Two types of soil were used in the experiment, viz. a sandy loam soil collected from Ficksburg and a sandy soil collected from Boshof The plant density was maintained at three plants per pot and the experiment was terminated four weeks after seedling emergence. A complete randomized design with a factorial combination consisting of two main factors, viz. four N and/or K band application levels which were replicated thrice, was used in this experiment. The application rates were the equivalent of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg N or K.ha-¹ for a row spacing of 1.5 m. The aerial and subsoil plant parameters, as well as, the nutrient uptake by maize were measured to determine the influence of different N and/or K applications on the early growth and development of maize. All the plant parameters measured showed that the interaction of N and K applications had no significant influence on the early growth and development of maize. The best results were obtained with an application of 20 to 40 kg N.ha-¹• An application of 20 kg K.ha-¹ provided the best results. The second experiment was conducted from October to November 1999. With the exception of the fertilization procedure, all other aspects pertaining to the execution of this experiment were the same as those used in the first experiment. This experiment was terminated six weeks after seedling emergence. The experiment consisted of two main factors, viz. four levels and three methods of K application, arranged in a factorial combination in a complete randomized design with four replications. The application rates were the equivalent of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K.ha-¹ placed through banding, topdressing and a combination of banding and topdressing for a row spacing of 1.5 m. With regards to the combination application, half of K was banded and another half topdressed. The aerial and subsoil plant parameters, as well as, the nutrient uptake by maize were studied to determine the effect of different levels of banded, top dressed and a combination of banded and topdressed K on the early growth and development of maize. All the plant parameters studied showed that the interaction of K application levels and methods had no significant influence on the early growth and development of maize. It seems the best results were attained with °to 20 kg K.ha-¹ The second experiment was conducted from October to November 1999. With the exception of the fertilization procedure, all other aspects pertaining to the execution of this experiment were the same as those used in the first experiment. This experiment was terminated six weeks after seedling emergence. The experiment consisted of two main factors, viz. four levels and three methods of K application, arranged in a factorial combination in a complete randornized design with four replications. The application rates were the equivalent of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K.ha-¹ placed through banding, topdressing and a combination of banding and topdressing for a row spacing of 1.5 m. With regards to the combination application, half of K was banded and another half topdressed. The aerial and subsoil plant parameters, as well as, the nutrient uptake by maize were studied to determine the effect of different levels of banded, top dressed and a combination of banded and topdressed K on the early growth and development of maize. All the plant parameters studied showed that the interaction of K application levels and methods had no significant influence on the early growth and development of maize. It seems the best results were attained with °to 20 kg K.ha-¹. A combination of banding and topdressing in the sandy loam soil and topdressing alone in the sandy soil provided the best results. Finally, it is recommended that field trials should be conducted in order to verify these glasshouse results under field conditions.The second experiment was conducted from October to November 1999. With the exception of the fertilization procedure, all other aspects pertaining to the execution of this experiment were the same as those used in the first experiment. This experiment was terminated six weeks after seedling emergence. The experiment consisted of two main factors, viz. four levels and three methods of K application, arranged in a factorial combination in a complete randornized design with four replications. The application rates were the equivalent of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K.ha-¹ placed through banding, topdressing and a combination of banding and topdressing for a row spacing of 1.5 m. With regards to the combination application, half of K was banded and another half topdressed. The aerial and subsoil plant parameters, as well as, the nutrient uptake by maize were studied to determine the effect of different levels of banded, top dressed and a combination of banded and topdressed K on the early growth and development of maize. All the plant parameters studied showed that the interaction of K application levels and methods had no significant influence on the early growth and development of maize. It seems the best results were attained with °to 20 kg K.ha-¹. A combination of banding and topdressing in the sandy loam soil and topdressing alone in the sandy soil provided the best results. Finally, it is recommended that field trials should be conducted in order to verify these glasshouse results under field conditions.. A combination of banding and topdressing in the sandy loam soil and topdressing alone in the sandy soil provided the best results. Finally, it is recommended that field trials should be conducted in order to verify these glasshouse results under field conditions.
Afrikaans: Dit is bekend dat gepaste bandplasings van N en/of K die vroeë groei en ontwikkeling van mielies kan optimaliseer. Om hierdie rede is 'n glashuisondersoek by die Universiteit van die Oranje-Vrystaat, Bloemfontein uitgevoer. Die eerste eksperiment is uitgevoer om die invloed van bandgeplaaste N en/of K op die vroeë groei en ontwikkeling van mielies te bepaal. Die tweede eksperiment is uitgevoer om die invloed van K-plasings het sy deur bandplasing, topbemesting of ' n kombinasie van bandplasing en topbemesting op die vroeë groei en ontwikkeling van mielies te bepaal. Ten einde bogenoemde te verwesenlik is die eerste stel proewe vanaf Januarie tot Maart 1999 met die kultivar PAN 6479 uitgevoer. Twee gronde naamlik'n sandleemgrond vanaf Ficksburg en 'n sandgrond vanaf Boshof is vir die proewe gebruik. Die plantdigtheid was drie plante per pot en die proewe is vier weke na-opkoms beëindig. Beide proewe het uit 'n faktoriaalreëling met twee hoofbehandelings (bandplasing van N en K teen vier peile elk) met drie herhalings bestaan. Die toedieningspeile was ekwivalent aan 0, 20, 40 en 60 kg N ofK. ha-¹ vir 1.5 m rye. Bogrondse en ondergrondse plantparameters sowel as voedingstofopname is gemeet om die vroeë groei en ontwikkeling van mielies by die verskillende N- en K-toedienings te evalueer. Vir al die plantparameters wat gemeet is, was die interaksie tussen N- en K-toedienings nie betekenisvol gewees nie. Die beste resultate is met'n N-toediening van 20 tot 40 kg. ha-¹ verkry. 'n K-toediening van 20 kg. ha-¹ in die band was in die meeste gevalle optimaal. Die tweede stel proewe is gedurende Oktober tot November 1999 uitgevoer. Met die uitsondering van die bemestingspraktyke, is die uitvoering van dié proewe dieselfde as die van eersgenoemde proewe. Die proewe is ses weke na opkoms beëindig. Beide proewe het uit 'n faktoriaalreëling met twee hoofbehandelings (plasings van vier K-peile en drie plasingsmetodes ) met vier herhalings bestaan. Die toedieningspeile was ekwivalent aan 0, 20, 40 en 60 kg K. ha-¹ gebandplaas, topbemes of as 'n kombinasie van bandplasing en topbemesting vir 'n 1.5 m rywydte toegedien. Met betrekking tot die kombinasietoediening is die helfte van die K gebandplaas en die ander helfte is as 'n topbemesting toegedien. Bogrondse- en ondergrondse plantparameters sowel as voedingstofopname is gemeet om die vroeë groei en ontwikkeling van mielies by die verskillende K-peile en Ktoedieningsmetodes te evalueer. Vir al die plantparameters wat gemeet is, was die interaksie tussen K-peile en K-toedieningsmetodes nie betekenisvol gewees nie. Dit blyk dat die beste resultate met 'n K-toediening van 0 tot 20 kg. ha-¹ verkry is. 'n Kombinasie van bandplasing en topbemesting op die sandleemgrond en slegs topbemesting op die sandgrond met K het die beste resultate gelewer.
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Keywords
Maize, Influence, Banding, Broadcasting, Topdressing, Nitrogen, Potassium, Early growth, Development, Plant-soil relationships, Corn -- South Africa -- Free State -- Fertilizers, Corn -- South Africa -- Free State -- Growth, Dissertation (M.Sc.Agric. (Agronomy and Horticulture))--University of the Free State, 2000
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