Corn Mineral Nutrition Responses to NPSFe Biofertilizer and NPKZn Briquettes

Abstract

Alternative fertilizers have been increasingly developed during recent years in order to improve crop nutrition. The efficacy of these fertilizers on corn (Zea mays L.) production has not been well examined. Alternative fertilizers of organically enhanced NPSFe biofertilizer (NPSFe) manufactured from sterilized organic additives extracted from municipal wastewater biosolids and NPKZn briquettes (briquettes) produced by compacting commercially available solid fertilizers into a super-granule between 1-3 grams were evaluated for nutrient concentrations in plant biomass and grain of corn compared to commonly used N fertilizers ammonium sulfate and urea at Jackson and Grand Junction, TN during 2011-2013. NPSFe, the briquettes, ammonium sulfate, and urea and four N application rates of 0, 85, 128/170, and 170/255 kg ha-1 were assigned to the main and sub plots, respectively, in a split plot randomized complete block design with four replicates. Aboveground plant biomass at the silking growth stage (R1) and physiological maturity stage (R6) and grain at harvest were analyzed for N, P, K, S, Fe, and Zn concentrations. NPSFe resulted in similar or lower plant N concentrations relative to the conventional fertilizers ammonium sulfate and urea. The briquettes performed equally or better in terms of plant N concentrations compared to ammonium sulfate and urea. In excessive spring precipitation, the briquettes had higher biomass N concentrations at R1. NPSFe tended to have lower P concentrations in plant biomass at R1 and R6. The briquettes had similar or higher plant P levels relative to ammonium sulfate and urea. Both NPSFe and ammonium sulfate increased S concentrations in plant biomass compared to the briquettes and urea. In conclusion, the briquettes do not consistently improve corn N, P, K, and Zn nutrition compared to the conventional fertilizers ammonium sulfate and urea. NPSFe sometimes seems to reduce corn N and P nutrition but increase Zn nutrition relative to ammonium sulfate and urea.