Fertilizer ammonium : nitrate ratios determine phosphorus uptake by young maize plants
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Authors: | Ingeborg F Pedersen Peter Srensen Jim Rasmussen Paul J A Withers Gitte Holton Rubk |
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Institution: | Ingeborg F. Pedersen,Peter Sørensen,Jim Rasmussen,Paul J. A. Withers,Gitte Holton Rubæk |
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Abstract: | We investigated the interacting effects of inorganic nitrogen and the main inorganic phosphorus form in dairy manure (dicalcium phosphate, CaHPO4) on growth, nutrient uptake, and rhizosphere pH of young maize plants. In a pot experiment, three levels of CaHPO4 (0, 167, and 500 mg P pot?1) were combined with nitrogen (637 mg N pot?1) applied at five NH4‐N : NO3‐N ratios (0 : 100, 25 : 75, 50 : 50, 75 : 25, and 100 : 0) and a nitrification inhibitor in a concentrated layer of a typical acid sandy soil from Denmark. 15N‐labeled NH4‐N was applied to differentiate the role of nitrification and to partition nitrogen uptake derived from NH4‐N. Among treatments including nitrogen, shoot biomass, rooting and phosphorus uptake were significantly higher at the five‐leaf stage when CaHPO4 was applied with NH4‐N : NO3‐N ratios of 50 : 50 and 75 : 25. In these treatments, rhizosphere pH dropped significantly in direct proportion with NH4‐N uptake. The fertilizers in the concentrated layer had a root‐inhibiting effect in treatments without phosphorus supply and in treatments with pure NO3‐N or NH4‐N supply. Increased nitrogen uptake as NH4‐N instead of NO3‐N reduced rhizosphere pH and enhanced acquisition of applied CaHPO4 by young maize plants, which may have positive implications for the enhanced utilization of manure phosphorus. |
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Keywords: | nitrogen form rhizosphere soil acidification starter fertilizer Zea mays
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