Master of Science / Agronomy / Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz Suarez / The effect of tillage on crop yield, early growth, and soil nutrient stratification can be influenced by fertilizer placement. In addition, deeper root systems can enhance the crop ability to uptake water and nutrients. A thorough understanding of how these factors interact can result in increased grain yields and profitability for the producer. Three studies were completed to describe and evaluate different aspects of crop root system and response to fertilizer placement and tillage. The objective of the first study was to characterize the root system of two genotypes of corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) using image analysis in the greenhouse and in the field, as well as evaluate dry weight accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns by shoot and root plant parts for both crops. Two different genotypes of each crop were sampled during the growing season to access root characteristics such as biomass, length, surface area, average diameter and volume. Significant differences were found in corn where the P1151 AM hybrid had greater root length, surface area and volume than the P1105 AM hybrid. In soybean, the differences were found in nutrient uptake with overall greater nutrient uptake values for the poor drainage variety (PD) compared to the good drainage variety (GD). The objective of the second study was to evaluate the effect of fertilizer placement and tillage system on corn with different genotypes. Three fertilizer treatments were combined with two different corn genotypes selected based on contrasting root systems and two different tillage systems. The three fertilizer placements were sub-surface band, broadcast, and control. The two hybrids of corn used were a P1151 AM hybrid and P1105 AM hybrid. The two tillage systems were no-till (NT) and strip-till (ST). Corn hybrids showed different response in root biomass but did not show a consistent response in other characteristics evaluated. Broadcast and sub-surface band increased nutrient uptake and grain yields over the control but were not significantly different from each other. Tillage showed no difference in corn response. The objective of the third study was to evaluate the effect of fertilizer placement and tillage system on contrasting soybean genotypes. Three fertilizer treatments were combined with two different genotypes selected based on contrasting root systems and two different tillage operations. The three fertilizer placements were sub-surface band, broadcast, and control. The two varieties of soybean used were one recommended for poor drainage (PD) and one recommended for good drainage (GD). The two tillage operations were NT and ST. Soybean root biomass differences were observed by varieties. Sub-surface band treatment favored early soybean growth, biomass and P uptake at the V3 growth stage, but it did not turn into yield increase. Soybean grain yields did not respond to fertilization in this study. Yield was affected significantly by variety selection and response varies by site-year.

The response of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to legume and small grain cover crop establishment, in-season nitrogen (N) rate, and fertilizer N placement was investigated in two experiments located in coastal plain Virginia and North Carolina. The first experiment examined 1) soil compaction and cotton yield response to strip-tillage compared to no-tillage with a precision planted tillage radish and 2) the influence of legume mix, rye, and legume mix/rye combination cover crops with four in-season nitrogen (N) rates applied to cotton on cover crop biomass, cover crop nutrient uptake, soil compaction, soil N cycling, petiole nitrate-N (NO3-N) during the first week of bloom, cotton lint yield, and fiber quality parameters over two years. Legume mix cover crops resulted in greater N uptake, soil NO3-N during the growing season, and lint yields compared to LMR, rye, and fallow treatments over both study years. Soil compaction and lint yields were not significantly different between strip-tilled and no-till with tillage radish treatments in either year. Relative lint yields after LM were maximized at 93% relative yield with 110 kg N ha-1 applied in-season while relative lint yields for cotton following LM with 0 kg N ha-1 applied reached 75%, measuring at least 9% higher than cotton following other cover crop treatments. The second experiment investigated the effect of five N rates (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg N ha-1) and three placement methods (broadcast, surface banded, and injected) on lint yield, petiole nitrate-N (NO3-N), lint percent turnout, and fiber quality parameters. Nitrogen rate and placement had a significant effect on lint yield but only N rate affected petiole NO3-N concentration. It was estimated that injecting fertilizer N requires an N rate of 133 kg N ha-1 to achieve 95% relative yield while surface banded fertilizer N required a rate of 128 kg N ha-1 to produce 90% relative yield. A critical petiole NO3-N concentration threshold of 5,600 mg NO3-N kg-1 was calculated to reach 92% relative yield. Other agronomic management practices such as cover crop termination timing, cover crop species blends, and number of fertilizer N applications are of interest in order to develop better recommendations and promote conservation agricultural practices in coastal plain Virginia and North Carolina. / Master of Science / Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) response to diverse species cover crop mixes, conservation tillage method, fertilizer N rate, and fertilizer N placement at side-dress was measured in two field studies conducted on the coastal plain soil in Virginia and North Carolina from 2016-2018. The objectives of the following research were to 1) examine the influence of two conservation tillage practices and four cover crop mixes on cover crop biomass production, soil compaction, cover crop nutrient uptake, soil N cycling, petiole nitrate (NO3-N) and cotton lint yield and 2) measure cotton performance in response to five N rate and three placement application methods. Legume mix (LM) cover crops contained more N in biomass, resulting in higher soil NO3-N during the growing season and higher lint yields at harvest compared to a legume mix and rye combination (LMR), rye, and fallow treatments. Soil compaction and lint yield were not significantly different between strip-tilled and no-till/tillage radish treatments in either year. Nitrogen rate and placement had a significant effect on lint yield but only N rate affected petiole NO3-N concentration. Injection of fertilizer N required an N rate of 133 kg N ha1 to achieve 95% relative yield while surface banded fertilizer N required a rate of 128 kg N ha-1 to produce 90% relative yield. A critical petiole NO3-N concentration threshold of 5,600 mg NO3-N kg-1 was also calculated to reach 92% relative yield. Future application of these results can include investigation of optimal N source for Virginia cotton production, best N placement method for cotton grown in high residue systems, and an economic analysis to determine optimum agronomic management for Virginia coastal plain cotton production.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / David B. Mengel / This study was initiated to determine if potassium (K) deficiencies seen in soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) under no-till and strip-till production systems are impacting soybean yields, and if so, what fertilizer application practices including: rate of K application; broadcast or deep band methods of application; and the use of starter fertilizer at planting; could be used to correct the problem. The residual impacts of K fertilization and placement were also evaluated on corn (Zea mays L.) grown in rotation with soybeans. This research was conducted on-farm in cooperation with local producers. Soybeans sites in 2007 were near Harris, Ottawa and Westphalia, Kansas with corn planted in 2008 at the sites near Ottawa and Westphalia. Soybean sites in 2008 were located near Ottawa and Welda, Kansas. Selected sites were generally near or below the current soil test K critical level of 130 mg per kg extractable K, based on sampling histories provided by the cooperators. Sampling in the spring of 2007 confirmed these soil test (ST) K levels. Soybean leaf tissue potassium levels in 2007 were less than the critical level of 17 mg per kg in the unfertilized control plots, and were significantly greater when potassium fertilizer was deep banded or a high-rate of K fertilizer was broadcast. No significant difference in yield of soybeans due to K fertilization was seen, likely due to significant water stress during the grain fill period, which severely limited soybean yield in 2007. Soil test K levels at all the research sites increased dramatically between 2007 and 2008, even where no K was applied. Different weather conditions experienced these two years may have contributed to this occurrence. No residual impacts of K fertilization in 2007 on soybeans were seen in soil tests, corn leaf tissue K levels or corn yield in 2008. Soybean sites in 2008 also showed a dramatic increase in K ST levels in 2008 as compared to farmer records. No effects of K fertilization on soybean growth or yield were seen in 2008. The 2008 Ottawa soybean site had very low P soil tests. A significant response to P fertilization contained in the starter treatments was observed. This suggests that the dominant farmer practice of applying P and K fertilizer to corn, and not applying fertilizer directly to soybeans, even at low soil test levels, may not be supplying adequate P to soybeans, and is likely costing farmers yields and profits.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T15:50:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGMS13DA015.pdf: 947168 bytes, checksum: 441cf02feb1ab108ff82cb196578a985 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-20 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Chemical modifications in the soil near fertilizer granules affect plant nutrient availability and, thus, knowing them may help to select the Best management practices for soil fertilization. This study comprised three experiments with the aim of: a- to evaluate the soil chemical composition around granules of calcium or ammonium phosphates when appled together with KCl as well as nutrient mobility in the soil; b- to quantify nutrient concentration in both soil and solution phases and soil solution P and K activity in the adjacencies of phosphate and potassium fertilizers; c- to evaluate nutrient uptake from maize seedlings after localized addition of phosphate fertilizers in the soil. It was used two acid soils, and treatments varied according to each experiment: in the first two it was compared phosphate sources in presence of KCl and liming; in the third, it was quantified nutrient uptake by maize plants as affected by phosphates, in a greenhouse. Rates of P2O5 e K2O were 100 mg kg-1in the first study; 700 and 1236 mg kg-1 for each soil, respectively, in the second experiment; and 200 mg/pot in the last study. The high doses were applied in order to simulate the concentrations in the near fertilizer granules. Near fertilizer granules of the mineral phosphate, the chemical composition of the soil is affected by different phosphorus sources, where the TSP proves more effective than DAP in the release of P. Localized application of phosphate fertilizers increases the movement of nutrients in the soil in which the phosphorus mobilization occurs up to four centimeters. The extraction method overestimates Mehlich 1 P values when applied to the soil TSP. DAP increases the concentration of HPO4- in soil solution. The MAP is shown to be an efficient source of P in the release and uptake by plants / As alterações químicas no solo ao redor dos grânulos de fertilizantes afetam a disponibilidade de nutrientes às plantas e o conhecimento das mesmas pode indicar as práticas e as fontes mais eficientes de fertilização do solo. Neste contexto, este estudo foi dividido em três experimentos. O primeiro experimento teve por objetivo avaliar a composição química do solo ao redor de grânulos de fosfatos de amônio ou de cálcio, aplicados juntamente com cloreto de potássio (KCl), e a mobilidade dos nutrientes por eles adicionados. O objetivo do segundo experimento foi quantificar as concentrações dos nutrientes na fase sólida e na solução do solo nas adjacências dos locais de aplicação dos fertilizantes fosfatados e potássico minerais, assim como as atividades de P e K em solução. O terceiro objetivou avaliar a absorção de P e demais nutrientes pelas plântulas de milho em função da aplicação localizada de fosfatos de cálcio e de amônio. Utilizaram-se dois solos ácidos catarinenses. Os tratamentos variaram entre os experimentos: no primeiro compararam-se os efeitos do superfosfato triplo (SFT) e do diamônio fosfato (DAP) na presença de cloreto de potássio (KCl), e as doses de P2O5 e K2O equivaleram a 100 mg kg-1 de solo. No segundo, também comparou-se o efeito do SFT e do DAP na presença ou não de KCl e de calcário, com doses de P2O5 e K2O iguais a 700 e 1236 mg kg-1 para o NV e CH, respectivamente. E no terceiro cultivaram-se plantas de milho avaliando-se o efeito da adição localizada de SFT, DAP, superfosfato simples (SS) e monoamônio fosfato (MAP), nos quais aplicou-se 200 mg de P/vaso. As doses aplicadas foram altas com a finalidade de simular as concentrações nas adjacências dos grânulos. Nas adjacências dos grânulos dos fertilizantes fosfatados minerais, a composição química do solo é afetada pelas diferentes fontes fosfatadas, onde o SFT mostrase mais eficaz que o DAP na liberação de P. A aplicação localizada dos fertilizantes fosfatada aumenta a movimentação dos nutrientes no solo, na qual a mobilização do fósforo ocorre até quatro centímetros. O método de extração Mehlich 1 superestima os valores de P quando aplica-se SFT ao solo. O DAP aumenta as concentrações de HPO4 - na solução do solo. O MAP mostra ser uma fonte eficiente na liberação de P e na sua absorção pelas plantas

Maize is the dominant crop in northwestern Germany and is mostly cultivated on sandy soils. Additionally, due to intensive livestock husbandry and biogas production, large amounts of liquid manures are produced. The current farm practice leads to high N and P surpluses at field level accompanied by environmental pollution, like nitrate leaching, eutrophication of non-agricultural ecosystems, and N2O emissions. The accruing liquid manures are often used for maize fertilization. Thereby, slurries are mainly broadcast applied using trailing hose applicators followed by incorporation into the topsoil. In addition, a mineral N P starter fertilizer (MSF) is band-applied below the seed-corn at planting to overcome the limited nutrient availability during the early growth stages. Using a slurry injection technique below the maize row before planting might serve a substitute for MSF. Addition of a nitrification inhibitor (NI) into the slurry before injection seems to be an option to further decrease N losses. The objectives of this thesis were to compare the current and novel fertilizing strategies with a special focus on soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) dynamics and plant P, zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) status. For both issues the effect of adding a NI into the slurry was investigated. To characterize the SMN dynamics after slurry injection an appropriate soil sampling strategy had to be developed. Therefore, three consecutive field trials were conducted. The first testing of the new soil sampling approach was implemented in an existing experiment where the slurry was injected at a depth of 12 cm (upper rim) below the soil surface. The soil profile (75 cm wide) centered below the maize row was sampled using a grid-like approach to a depth of 90 cm. Around the injection zone, soil monoliths (SM) were sampled using a purpose-built soil shovel. Below the SMs and in the interrow space (15 and 30 cm distance to the row) a standardized auger procedure was used. The second experiment aimed to improve the sampling strategy with focus on sample homogenization quality and necessary sample sizes per pooled sample. In the third experiment this improved sampling strategy was validated. Results from the first testing of the sampling procedure showed that the strategy is suitable, although some problems occurred. Especially the high spread in values among the replications caused high coefficients of variation (CV; mostly 40 – 60%). The improvement trial revealed that for the SM, which contains the slurry band, an intensive homogenization is required. In addition, suitable sample sizes (twelve auger samples and six soil monolith samples per pooled sample) have to be collected to obtain reliable SMN values. Following this enhanced sampling strategy in the final validation trial, the spread in values was considerably reduced and resulted in CV values of mostly < 20%. The method can be adapted to other fertilizer placement strategies and further row crops. To compare both fertilizing strategies with respect to the spatial and temporal SMN dynamics as well as to the plant nutrient status two field trials were conducted using pig slurry on sandy soils in 2014 and 2015. Four treatments were tested: unfertilized control, broadcast application + MSF, injection, and injection + NI. Soil samples were taken using the new sampling strategy at several dates during the growing season. Plant samples were simultaneously collected to evaluate the plant P, Zn, and Mn status at different growth stages. In 2014, all fertilized N was displaced from the top soil layer of the broadcast treatment until the 6-leaf stage due to heavy rainfall, while N displacement was significantly smaller after slurry injection. The lateral movement of injected slurry N was negligible. In 2015, almost no displacement of fertilized N out of the top soil layer occurred independently of treatments, due to distinctly lower rainfall. The release of slurry N was delayed following broadcast application and large SMN concentrations were detected in the injection zones until the 10-leaf stage. The addition of a NI resulted in significantly increased NH4-N shares in the injection zone throughout the early growth stages (+ 46% in 2014 and + 12% in 2015 at 6-leaf stage). Thus, in 2014 SMN displacement was delayed, and in 2015 increased SMN concentrations were found around the slurry band, most probably due to lower N losses via denitrification. Furthermore, NI addition significantly increased the nutrient uptake by maize during early growth in both years. With P deficiency due to cold weather conditions in 2015, broadcast application showed higher P uptake until the 6-leaf stage (36 – 58%), while it was lower at the 8- (32%) and 10- (19%) leaf stages compared to slurry injection (+ NI). Zn availability was enhanced during early growth after slurry injection (+ NI) and Zn as well as Mn uptake were higher at harvest. Furthermore, dry matter yields were higher (2014) or equal (2015) compared to broadcast application. The P balances were decreased by 10 – 14 kg P ha-1, while Zn and Mn balances were excessive independent of treatments. The field trials showed that after slurry injection, especially when combined with a NI, the applied nitrogen is located in a soil zone with better spatial availability for plant roots compared to broadcast application. Furthermore, the MSF can be substituted without affecting early growth of maize. In conclusion, slurry injection leads to equal (or even higher) yields and enables farmers in northwestern Germany to reduce the P and N surpluses. This would support several goals concerning sustainable land use: Lower pollution of ground and surface waters, reduced emission of NH3, more efficient use of the limited rock P reserves, and less need of transporting organic manures out of regions with intensive animal husbandry and/or biogas production. However, slurry injection enhances the risk of N2O emissions, which contributes to climate change. Thus, for a final evaluation of the environmental impact a life cycle assessment would be worthwhile.