Determination of Optimum Rate and Growth Stage for Foliar-Applied Phosphorus in Corn

• Published in: Communications in soil science and plant analysis Vol. 38; no. 9-10; pp. 1137 - 1154
• Main Authors: Girma, K, Martin, K.L, Freeman, K.W, Mosali, J, Teal, R.K, Raun, W.R, Moges, S.M, Arnall, D.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01-05-2007; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; application rate; Bacillus thuringiensis; Biological and medical sciences; Bt corn; corn; corn growth stage; developmental stages; fertilizer application; foliar application; foliar fertilization; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Analysis and diagnosis methods; grain yield; nutrient use efficiency; phosphorus; plant growth; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Zea mays; Oklahoma; Monocotyledones; Zea mays; Growth rate; Bacillus thuringiensis; corn; Foliar fertilization; Phosphorus; Foliar application; Bt corn; Plant leaf; KH2PO4; Bacillaceae; Phosphorus fertilization; Cereal crop; Potassium Dihydrogenphosphates; Bacillales; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Bacteria; Spermatophyta; Transgenic plant; Developmental stage; corn growth stage
• ISSN: 0010-3624; 1532-2416
• DOI: 10.1080/00103620701328016

Foliar applications of fertilizer phosphorus (P) could improve use efficiency by minimizing soil applications. Nine experiments were conducted in 2002 and 2003 to determine foliar P rates and appropriate growth stages for application. Treatments comprised of 10 factorial combinations of three foliar P application timings and four rates of foliar P. Foliar application times were V4 (collar of fourth leaf visible), V8 (collar of eighth leaf visible), and VT (last branch of the tassel completely visible but silks not yet emerged) corn growth stages. Foliar P rates were 0, 2, 4, and 8 kg ha(-1). Foliar P applied at the VT growth stage improved grain and forage P concentration, which was reflected in increased grain yield in some of the experiments. A foliar P rate of 8 kg ha(-1) improved yield to some extent and forage and grain P concentration more than the smaller rates. The results suggest that foliar P could be used as an efficient P-management tool in corn when applied at the appropriate growth stage and rate.