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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #241915
Title: Effect of manure types, rates, and number of applications on sweet corn growth and nutrients content

Author
item AHAMAD, A - UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
item FARES, ALI - UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
item PARAMASIVAM, S - SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
item ELRASHIDI, M - NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS, USDA)
item SAVABI, M

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Science and Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2009
Publication Date: 9/25/2009
Citation: Ahamad, A.A., Fares, A., Paramasivam, S., Elrashidi, M.A., Savabi, M.R. 2009. Effect of manure types, rates, and number of applications on sweet corn growth and nutrients content. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B. 44:742-754.

Interpretive Summary: Animal manure can be a good source to improve soil properties and fertility and also eventually improve and enhance plant growth and nutrient concentration in plant tissue. Two field experiments were conducted at the Waimanalo research station on the island of Oahu, Hawaii to study the effect of chicken and dairy manures on biomass and nutrient concentrations in sweet corn roots and shoots. Results of root tissue indicated a significant accumulation of N and C under DM and DM treatments compared with the control treatment. Manure application rates significantly increased the accumulation of N and C in root tissue. The results of the study also indicate that amending soils with CM at the highest application rate provided the best crop performance in terms of root and shoot biomass, crop N, C, and other macro- and micro-nutrients.

Technical Abstract: Two field experiments were conducted at the Waimanalo research station on the island of Oahu, Hawaii to study the effect of two types of manure on biomass and nutrient concentrations in sweet corn roots and shoots. The manure types selected were chicken (CM) and dairy (DM). Four rates of application (0, 168, 337, and 672 kg ha-1 total N equivalent) and one time (OTA) or two time (TTA) applications were conducted. There were significant effects of types, rates, and number of manure applications on dry biomass of roots and shoots, and macro- and micronutrient contents in plant tissues. Analytical results of root tissue indicated significantly greater accumulation of N and C in CM, and DM treatments than in the control treatment. Increasing the rate of manure application significantly increased the accumulation of N and C in corn root tissue. Dry weight of corn roots and shoots and both macro- and micronutrient content in corn plant tissues significantly increased under TTA compared to OTA. Correlation analysis conducted among various measured parameters indicated a significant correlation (r2=0.46 to 0.81) between root biomass, macro, and micronutrient contents during both growing seasons. The results of the study indicates that amending soils with CM at the highest application rate provided the best crop performance in terms of biomass, crop N, C, and crop needed macro and micronutrients.