Piotr Szulc1, Katarzyna Ambroży-Deręgowska2, Hubert Waligóra1, Iwona Mejza2, Stanisław Grześ1, Waldemar Zielewicz3, Barbara Wróbel4. 1. Department of Agronomy, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland. 2. Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland. 3. Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape Sciences, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland. 4. Department of Grasslands, Institute of Technology and Life Sciences, Falenty, Al. Hrabska 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland.
Abstract
This study presents the results of 3-year field trials, whose purpose was to assess the dynamics of dry matter accumulation by maize depending on the placement depth of a two-component (NP) mineral fertilizer in the soil layer, type of nitrogen fertilizer and date of its application. Weather conditions, mainly thermal in the early growing season, had a significant effect on maize responses to placement depth of phosphorus starting dose in the soil profile. In the initial stage of maize development, the temperature determined plant growth to a significantly higher extent than the sum of rainfall. The dry matter yield of ears and whole plants showed a clear reaction to starter phosphorus fertilization, but the effect of the depth of fertilizer placement varied over the years, indicating a depth of 5 cm and 10 cm as advisable and recommended for agricultural practice. The PFPFN (partial factor productivity of fertilizer nitrogen) and PFPFP (partial factor productivity of fertilizer phosphorus) indices confirmed the significant effect of fertilizer (NP) placement in the soil profile, indicating row fertilizer application (regardless of the depth) as recommended to improve the efficiency of maize fertilization. The SPAD (soil plant analysis development) leaf greenness index turned out to be a sensitive indicator of maize response to fertilizer (NP) placement depth in the soil profile.
This study presents the results of 3-year field trials, whose purpose was to assess the dynamics of pan class="Disease">dry matter accumulation by pan class="Species">maize depending on the placement depth of a two-component (NP) mineral fertilizer in the soil layer, type of nitrogen fertilizer and date of its application. Weather conditions, mainly thermal in the early growing season, had a significant effect on maize responses to placement depth of phosphorus starting dose in the soil profile. In the initial stage of maize development, the temperature determined plant growth to a significantly higher extent than the sum of rainfall. The dry matter yield of ears and whole plants showed a clear reaction to starter phosphorus fertilization, but the effect of the depth of fertilizer placement varied over the years, indicating a depth of 5 cm and 10 cm as advisable and recommended for agricultural practice. The PFPFN (partial factor productivity of fertilizer nitrogen) and PFPFP (partial factor productivity of fertilizer phosphorus) indices confirmed the significant effect of fertilizer (NP) placement in the soil profile, indicating row fertilizer application (regardless of the depth) as recommended to improve the efficiency of maize fertilization. The SPAD (soil plant analysis development) leaf greenness index turned out to be a sensitive indicator of maize response to fertilizer (NP) placement depth in the soil profile.