Impact of banded potassium on crop yield and soil potassium in ridge-till planting

• Published in: Soil Science Society of America journal Vol. 68; no. 2; pp. 629 - 636
• Main Authors: REHM, G. W, LAMB, J. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Soil Science Society of America 01-03-2004; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Corn; Crop rotation; Crop yield; Fertilizer application; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizations; Planting; Potassium; Potassium fertilization; Soil testing; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soybeans; Tillage; Vegetables; Minnesota; United States; North America; America; Monocotyledones; Soil fertility; Cultivated soil; Inorganic fertilizer; Inorganic element; Cereal crop; Plowing; Gramineae; Mineral fertilization; Agronomy; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Loam soil; Soil science; Chemical composition; Macronutrient(mineral); Zea mays; Potassium fertilization; Cropping system; Alfisols; Property of soil; Mollisols; Ridge till; BAND PLACEMENT; Glycine max; Soil management; Clay loam soil; Grain legume; Potash fertilizer; Silt loam soil; Leguminosae; Conservation tillage; Spermatophyta; Application method; Yield; Soil plant relation; Potassium; Oil plant (vegetal)
• ISSN: 0361-5995; 1435-0661; 1435-0661
• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2004.0629

Adequate application of fertilizer K has been identified as a key management practice needed to achieve optimum production in a ridge-till planting system. However, the impact of K fertilization frequency has not been documented. Additionally, banded application of K also raises questions about the correct procedure to be followed for collection of soil samples. This study was conducted in the fields of three farmers who used the ridge-till planting system for corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) grown in rotation. Potassium was applied in a subsurface band in the center of existing ridges in the fall of Year 1 before corn and Year 2 before soybean at rates of 0,18.5, 37.0, 55.5, and 74.0 kg ha^sup -1^. To measure the effect of residual K on soybean yield, the rates were doubled and applied only once (before Year 1). Grain yield of both corn and soybean at all sites was not affected by K application. Potassium uptake by young corn plants was increased by K rate, but uptake was not related to yield. Potassium use had no significant effect on K concentration in the most recently matured soybean trifoliate leaves sampled at early bloom. At two sites, banded K produced changes in soil test K to a depth of 15.0 cm at a distance to 15.0 cm from the row. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]