Rate and Timing of Meat and Bone Meal Applications Influence Growth, Yield, and Soil Water Nitrate Concentrations in Sweet Corn Production

Tiare Silvasy,Amjad A Ahmad,Koon-Hui Wang,Theodore J K Radovich

doi:10.3390/agronomy11101945

Tiare Silvasy, Amjad A Ahmad + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11101945

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Abstract

Using local resources and minimizing environmental impacts are two important components of sustainable agriculture. Meat and bone meal (MBM), tankage, is a locally produced organic fertilizer. This study was conducted to investigate the response of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata Stuart.) and soil water nitrate (NO3-N) concentration to MBM application at two locations, Waimānalo and Poamoho, on the island of O’ahu. The objectives were to determine effects of six application rates (0, 112, 224, 336, 448 and 672 kg N ha−1) and two application timings (preplant and split application) on: (1) sweet corn growth, yield, and quality, and (2) soil water nitrate concentration within and below the root zone. The split-plot was designed as four replicates randomly arranged in a complete block. Plant growth of roots and shoots, yield, and relative leaf chlorophyll content of sweet corn increased with increasing application rates of MBM in both locations. At Poamoho, yield was 13.6% greater in preplant versus split application. Nitrate-nitrogen losses were reduced by 20% at Waimānalo and 40% at Poamoho when MBM was applied in split applications. These findings suggest that MBM is an effective nitrogen source for sweet corn and a split application of MBM may reduce the potential for pollution.

Highlights

Utilizing locally-produced inputs to efficiently provide plant nutrition is important for sustainable agriculture systems, especially in an isolated island such as Hawai’i [1].Applying organic waste by-products as fertilizer serves as a strategy to safely recycle nutrients that would otherwise need to be disposed of [2,3]
This study evaluated the response of Meat and bone meal (MBM) application rates (0, 112, 224, 336, 448, and 672 kg N ha−1) and fertilization timing on sweet corn growth, yield, and quality, and soil water NO3-N concentrations within and below the root zone in two locations in O’ahu, Hawai’i
Yield was comparable to other tropical sweet corn

Summary

Introduction

Utilizing locally-produced inputs to efficiently provide plant nutrition is important for sustainable agriculture systems, especially in an isolated island such as Hawai’i [1]. Applying organic waste by-products as fertilizer serves as a strategy to safely recycle nutrients that would otherwise need to be disposed of [2,3]. Meat and bone meal (MBM), or tankage, is the solid by-product of animal rendering. The combined annual production of MBM in U.S and Canada was 2.5 million metric tons in 2004 [4]. After the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, MBM was banned from animal feed and alternative uses were emphasized. Non-feed uses of MBM include soil amendment, biofuel [5], and feed supplement for fish, poultry, and non-ruminant animals [6]

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