Wednesday, November 15, 2006
287-19
Interaction of Nitrogen and Flue Gas Desulfurization Sulfur for Production of Corn.
Liming Chen, David Kost, and Warren Dick. The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH 44691
Nitrogen deficiency in soil often limits corn (Zea mays L.) growth, thus requiring fertilizer N inputs to achieve optimum yields. Nitrogen fertilizer is becoming more expensive and methods are needed to improve N use efficiency. Sulfur deficiency in several crops, including corn, has recently been observed in Ohio. However, little information is available related to the interaction of N and S fertilizers to effect the production of corn. Field experiments were conducted on a silt loam soil at Wooster, Ohio from 2002 to 2005 to test corn responses to the addition of N (seven rates from 0 to 233 kg ha-1) and S (two rates of 0 and 33 kg ha-1) from flue gas desulfurization (FGD) products. Corn grain yields, averaged over 4 years, were increased 7.0% when S was applied. This increase was statistically significant (P < 0.05). A statistically significant interaction effect of N by S was observed in 2004 and 2005 with the low N rates from 0 to 133 kg ha-1 responding better to S than the high N rates. The highest grain yields were reached at the 133 kg N ha-1 application rate with S addition. This suggests that S application can improve N use efficiency and decrease the amount of N required for optimum corn production. Reduced N fertilizer application rates can also help maintain good water quality. Nitrogen, P, K, Mg and S in corn grain were slightly increased by application of 33 kg ha-1 of S when N was applied at rates of 100 and 200 kg ha-1. These results indicate application of N fertilizer with S promoted uptake, by corn plants, of N and other major plant nutrients.
Handout (.pdf format, 326.0 kb)