Corn root distribution between ammonium fertilized and unfertilized soil

Abstract

Abstract Earlier research has shown that in a phosphorus (P) placement experiment the amount of increase in root proliferation in the fertilized volume, F, depended on the ratio of the available soil P levels in F and the unfertilized volume, U. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of the level of nitrogen (N) in F, and U on root proliferation in F. The research was conducted using the same procedures as were used for P. Corn (Zea mays L.) was grown in pots of soil where 20% of the soil was fertilized with N at 10 rates and three replications using ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4]. All the soil was treated with nitrification inhibitor to reduce nitrification of ammonium (NH4 +) since nitrate (NO3‐) would diffuse to the unfertilized volume much more rapidly than NH4. The fertilized volume was separated with plastic screen and the root growth in this volume was compared with root growth in a comparable volume of unfertilized soil that was also separated with plastic screen. After 10 days o...