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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #80778
Title: EVALUATION OF STARTER FERTILIZER AND RESIDUAL STARTER PHOSPHORUS BANDS FOR NO-TILL CROPPING SYSTEMS

Author
item STECKER, J - UNIV OF MO
item BROWN, J - UNIV OF MO
item Kitchen, Newell

Submitted to: Fluid Fertilizer Foundation Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/4/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The agronomic benefit of starter fertilizer for no-till corn in MO has not been established. Six starter fertilizer treatments consisting of nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) were tested for no-till corn at 3 sites. A better understanding of temporal and spatial starter band dynamics in the soil will assist in developing a soil sampling strategy that accounts for the bands. Bands of 2 treatments were marked with monofilament fishing line, in order to precisely sample the bands at later times. At leaf stages 7 to 10, starter fertilizer increased corn height and 10 plant weight at only one site. Grain yield was increased by starter at 2 sites, but at these sites there was no earlier effect on the corn (increased height or weight). Corn without starter yielded 5 and 13 bu/acre less than corn treated with starter containing both N and P. Combining data across sites, the average of the 4 N plus P starters resulted in yields 7 bu/acre more than corn without starter. Grain moisture was relatively unaffected by starter. Preliminary soil analyses indicate that the starter band is not circular in the soil but is a vertically oriented oval. Five months after application the band appeared to be 2-in wide and 3-in deep, with Bray-1 P concentrations as much as 70 to 80 ppm greater than the surrounding soil.