Localized application of NH₄⁺-N plus P at the seedling and later growth stages enhances nutrient uptake and maize yield by inducing lateral root proliferation

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 372; no. 1/2; pp. 65 - 80
• Main Authors: Ma, Qinghua, Zhang, Fusuo, Rengel, Zed, Shen, Jianbo
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.11.2013; Springer Netherlands
• Subjects: Agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; ammonium sulfate; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Corn; diammonium phosphate; Ecology; field experimentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; grain yield; Grains; Life Sciences; Nitrogen; Nutrient uptake; nutrients; Plant Physiology; Plant roots; Plant Sciences; Plants; Quaternary ammonium compounds; Regular Article; roots; seedlings; shoots; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Sowing; Starter fertilizers; urea; Zea mays; Root proliferation; Ammonium; Maize yield; Nutrient-use efficiency; Phosphate; Localized nutrient supply; Phosphates; Monocotyledones; Plant juvenile growth stage; Nitrogen compounds; Supply; C4-Type; Inorganic element; Cereal crop; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Developmental stage; Macronutrient(mineral); Monovalent cation; Vegetals; Zea mays; Root; Nutrient recovery; Lateral; Inorganic ion; Proliferation; Nutrient uptake; Inorganic cation; Inorganic nitrogen; Vegetative apparatus; Nutrient; Phosphorus compound; Spermatophyta; Yield; Soil plant relation; Localized
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-013-1735-8

Background and aims Localized supply of P plus ammonium improves root-proliferation and nutrient-uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) at seedling stage, but it is largely unknown how localized supply of nutrients at both early and late stages influences maize-growth, nutrient-uptake and grain-yield. Methods A 2-year field experimentation with maize was conducted with localized application of P plus ammonium as diammonium phosphate (LDAP) or ammonium sulfate plus P (LASP) at sowing or jointing stage, with broadcast urea and P (BURP) or no nitrogen (F0) as controls. Results Localized supply of P plus ammonium significantly increased root-proliferation, shoot dry-weight and nutrient-uptake at seedling stage. The positive effect disappeared at 53 days after sowing. However, plantgrowth and nutrient-uptake increased again after the second localized application of P plus ammonium at jointing. The density and average length of the firstorder lateral roots in local patches increased by 50 % in LDAP and LASP compared with F0 and BURP. Maizeyield increased by 8-10 % compared with BURP. Agronomic N efficiency and N-use efficiency increased by 41-48 % and 25-57 % compared with the BURP. Conclusions It is suggested that enhanced root-proliferation in the nutrient-rich patches with localized supply of ammonium and P at sowing and jointing stages is essential for improving nutrient-uptake and ultimately grain-yield.