Short communication : Phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization in sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata Bailey)

J De Grazia,P.A Tittonell,A Chiesa,D Germinara

doi:10.5424/sjar/2003012-28

J De Grazia, P.A Tittonell + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2003012-28

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Abstract

To evaluate the effect of combining different levels of P and N fertilisation on yield and uniformity of a sweet corncrop hybrid Freshy, a factorial trial combining three levels of N (0, 100 and 200 kg of N ha-1) and three levels of P (0,40 and 80 kg of P2O5 ha-1) was carried out. Total leaf number, height up to ear insertion, leaf width and length, leaf area,plant height, stem diameter, biomass production, shoot dry matter content, harvest index and yield with and withouthusk, husk proportion and ear diameter were measured. Significant differences in leaf width and length, leaf area, plantheight, ear diameter, biomass production and yield with and without husk were observed with N fertilisation. On theother hand, significant differences in leaf length, unit leaf area, ear diameter and biomass production were observedwith P fertilisation. A N x P interaction was only observed for shoot dry matter content

Highlights

40 and 80 kg of P2O5 ha-1) was carried out
To ensure a high profitability crop management large yields have to be obtained in the field with good quality
A larger unit leaf area and total leaf area was measured for N 1 and N 2 treatments, with no significant differences between them

Summary

Fertilisation treatments consisted of three levels of

P (P0=0, P1=40 and P2=80 kg P2O5 ha-1) combined with three levels of N (N0=0, N1=100 and N2=200 kg N ha-1). Phosphorus fertilisation caused a reduction in unit leaf area as a consequence of a smaller leaf length. This was not reflected in the total leaf area in spite of the fact that the total number of leaves was not affected by phosphorus application. The leaf area index and the duration of leaf area decreased up to 60 and 65%, respectively Both plant height and aerial biomass increased with nitrogen application (Table 1). Phosphorus fertilisation did not affect plant height and less total biomass was measured in P2 treatment. The stem diameter and height of ear insertion were not affected by the fertilisation treatments genotypically determined.

Harvest index

Findings

Yield without husk