Placement depth and distribution of cattle slurry influence initial maize growth and phosphorus and nitrogen uptake

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundPlaced cattle slurry (CS) provides essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to young maize (Zea Mays L.) plants and may substitute the use of mineral starter fertilizers. However, placement depth and distribution of slurry may influence the plant growth response.AimsThe objective was to evaluate the effects of slurry placement depth and distribution on initial maize growth, and N and P uptake on loamy sand and coarse sandy soil.MethodsIn a pot experiment, CS spiked with (15NH4)2SO4 was placed either 2, 5, or 8 cm below the seed in a thick layer covering 50% of the central pot area or 5 cm below the seed in a thinner layer covering the whole pot area.ResultsIn the loamy sand soil, maize biomass and P uptake at the five‐leaf stage were higher when slurry was placed in a thick‐centered layer 2 or 5 cm below the seed than at 8 cm. In the coarse sandy soil, maize biomass increased by 21%, when slurry was placed in a thinner layer covering the whole pot area, compared to slurry placed in a thick layer, whereas slurry placement depth had no effect on this soil type. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and 15N recovery (15NRE) were not affected by slurry placement depth, but the application of slurry in the thick layer increased NUE and 15NRE in loamy sand soil as compared to the thin slurry layer at the same depth.ConclusionsPlaced CS could replace starter N and P fertilizer for the early growth of maize. The beneficial effect of placed slurry depended on slurry placement depth in the loamy sand soil and slurry distribution in the coarse sandy soil, and distribution of slurry in broader bands seems a promising strategy in coarse sandy soils.