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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #378476
Research Project: Sustainable Intensification of Cropping Systems on Spatially Variable Landscapes and Soils

Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research

Title: Corn tissue nutrient response in relation to soil health metrics

Author
item HENRY, MATTHEW - University Of Missouri
item Kitchen, Newell
item Veum, Kristen
item SVEDIN, JEFFREY - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/9/2020
Publication Date: 11/9/2020
Citation: Henry, M.B., Kitchen, N.R., Veum, K.S., Svedin, J.D. 2020. Corn tissue nutrient response in relation to soil health metrics [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSA Annual International Conference, November 9-13, 2020, Virtual. Available: https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2020am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/126410

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil health metrics, such as active carbon or soil respiration may be important factors influencing corn nutrient uptake. The push for increasing soil health has created the question of how soil health and soil fertility interact. This research determined how different soil health metrics impact early-season corn tissue nutrient content of potassium (K), sulfur (S), or phosphorus (P). Research conducted in 2019 on 35 producer Missouri fields encompassed many soil types and management practices. Soil samples collected in the spring before applying fertilizer treatments were analyzed with a range of soil fertility and health tests. Each field location (referred to as a “stamp”) was divided into quadrants for fertilization, where non-limiting nitrogen was added along with the treatments (no other fertilizer, K, P, and S). This resulted in 195 stamps. Whole plant tissue samples collected at the V6 growth stage were analyzed for nutrient content. Tissue nutrient content from fertilized areas will be compared non-fertilized areas through a response ratio. Data analysis will be conducted to show the relationship of tissue response to several soil health metrics along with the soil fertility that is present before fertilization. Differences in tissue response at different fertility levels may be explained with the added soil health metrics incorporated into the equation.