Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Application of liquid cattle manure and inorganic fertilizers affect dry matter, nitrogen accumulation, and partitioning in maize

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Efficient use of N applied in the form of organic and inorganic fertilizers is important in maize (Zea mays L.) production to maximize producer’s economic returns and maintain soil and water quality. A field study was conducted for three consecutive years (2003–2005) in Thessaloniki, Greece to investigate whether liquid cattle manure can be used to replace inorganic fertilizers and also whether inorganic fertilizer can be applied preplant or as a combination of preplant and sidedress and can affect maize growth, development and N use efficiency. The treatments were control (unfertilized), liquid dairy cattle manure (Manure), application of 260 kg N ha−1 year−1 as basal dressing (N-single), application of 130 kg ha−1 year−1 N as basal dressing before sowing and 130 kg N ha−1 when plants were at the eight-leaf stage (V8) (N-split). In 2 out of the 3 years of the study there was a significant positive effect of fertilizer application on maize growth, development, N uptake, and partitioning compared with the control. Dry matter production was increased by an average of 39% during the 2 years in plots fertilized either with manure or inorganic fertilizers than the control plots. Also from the yield components kernel weight per ear and number of kernels per ear were increased by an average of 35% and 32%, respectively in the fertilized plots compared with the control plots. Chlorophyll level was affected as it was increased by an average of 18%, 14%, and 18% at the ten-leaf stage (V10), silking and milk stage, respectively in the fertilization treatments compared with the control. Similar trend was observed in the other parameters that were studied. No differences were found between the manure and the different times of N application which indicates that manure can be used to replace inorganic fertilizer. Applying N either preplant in a single application or in split application (half of N preplant and half as sidedress) did not have any effect on any characteristics that were studied indicating that preplant application can be used as it is more cost effective. The present study indicates that liquid cattle manure can be used to replace inorganic fertilizers and also that there was no difference between preplant and sidedress application of N.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson EL, Kamprath EJ, Moll RH (1984) N fertility effects on accumulation, remobilization, and partitioning of N and dry matter in corn genotypes differing in prolificacy. Agron J 76:397–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binder DL, Sander DH, Walters DT (2000) Maize response to time of N application as affected by level of nitrogen deficiency. Agron J 92:1228–1236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borges R, Mallarino AP (2001) Deep banding phosphorus and potassium fertilizers for corn managed with ridge tillage. Soil Sci Soc Am J 65:376–384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bremner JM (1996) Nitrogen-total. In: Sparks DL (eds) Chemical methods. Part 3. SSSA Book series. SSSA, ASA, Madison, WI, pp 1085–1121

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang C, Sommerfeldt TG, Entz T (1993) Barley performance under heavy applications of cattle feedlot manure. Agron J 85:1013–1018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donald CM, Hambin J (1976) The biological yield and harvest index of cereals as agronomic and plant breeding criteria. Adv Agron 28:361–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eghball B (2002) Soil properties as influenced by phosphorus- and nitrogen-based manure and compost applications. Agron J 94:128–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eghball B, Power JF (1999) Composted and noncomposted manure application to conventional and no-tillage systems: corn yield and nitrogen uptake. Agron J 91:819–825

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fageria NK, Baligar VC (2005) Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants. Advan Agron 88:97–185

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2006) FAS Stat-Agriculture. FAO statistical database. http://www.fao.org/waicent/portal/statistics_en.asp. Cited 15 Feb 2007

  • Hanway JJ (1963) Growth stages of corn (Zea mays L.). Agron J 55:487–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jokela WE (1992) Nitrogen fertilizer and dairy manure effects on corn yield and soil nitrate. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:148–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jokela WF, Randall GW (1989) Corn yield and residual soil nitrate as affected by time and rate of nitrogen application. Agron J 81:720–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung PE Jr, Peterson LA, Schrader LE (1972) Response of irrigated corn to time, rate, and source of applied N on sandy soils. Agron J 64:668–670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemcoff JH, Loomis RS (1986) Nitrogen influences on yield determination in maize. Crop Sci 26:1017–1022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma BL, Dwyer LM, Gregorich EG (1999a) Soil nitrogen amendment effects on seasonal nitrogen mineralization and nitrogen cycling in maize production. Agron J 91:1003–1009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma BL, Dwyer LM, Gregorich EG (1999b) Soil nitrogen amendment effects on nitrogen uptake and grain yield of maize. Agron J 91:650–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H (1995) Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsi T, Lithourgidis AS, Gagianas AA (2003) Effects of injected liquid cattle manure on growth and yield of winter wheat and soil characteristics. Αgron J 95:592–596

    Google Scholar 

  • McCullough DE, Girardin P, Mihajlovic M, Aguilera A, Tollenaar M (1994) Influence of N supply on development and dry matter accumulation of an old and new maize hybrid. Can J Plant Sci 74:471–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller HF, Kavanaugh J, Thomas GW (1975) Time of N application and yields of corn in wet, alluvial soils. Agron J 67:401–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moll RH, Jackson WA, Mikkelsen RL (1994) Recurrent selection for maize grain yield: Dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning changes. Crop Sci 34:874–881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moll RH, Kamprath EJ, Jackson WA (1982) Analysis and interpretation of factors which contribute to efficiency of nitrogen utilization. Agron J 74:562–564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery EG (1911) Correlation studies in corn. Nebraska Agric Exp Stn Annu Rep 24:108–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Muchow RC (1988) Effect of nitrogen supply on the comparative productivity of maize and sorghum in a semi-arid tropical environment. I. Leaf growth and leaf nitrogen. Field Crops Res 18:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muchow RC, Davis R (1988) Effect of nitrogen supply on the comparative productivity of maize and sorghum in a semi-arid tropical environment. II. Radiation interception and biomass accumulation. Field Crops Res 18:17–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy LS, Wallingford GW, Powers WL, Manges HL (1972) Effects of soil beef feedlot wastes on soil conditions and plant growth In: Proceedings of the cornell agicultural waste management conference. University of Cornell, Ithaca, NY, 4–9 June 1972

  • Murwira HK, Kirchmann H (1993) Nitrogen dynamics and maize growth in a Zimbabwean sandy soil under manure fertilization. Comm Soil Sci Plant Anal 24:2343–2359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Leary MJ, Rehm GW (1990) Nitrogen and sulphur effects on the yield and quality of corn grown for grain and silage. J Prod Agric 3:135–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul JW, Beauchamp EG, (1993) Nitrogen availability for corn in soils amended with urea, cattle slurry, and solid and composted manures. Can J Soil Sci 73:253–266

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rajcan I, Tollenaar M (1999) Source: sink ratio and leaf senescence in maize: I. Dry matter accumulation and partitioning during grain filling. Field Crops Res 60:245–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie SW, Hanway JJ, Benson GO (1993) How a corn plant develops. Coop Ext Serv Spec Rep, Iowa State Univ., Ames. IA. 48

  • Schepers JS, Franscis DD, Vigil M, Below FE (1992) Comparison of corn leaf N concentration and chlorophyll meter readings. Comm. Soil Plant Anal 23:17–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlegel AJ (1992) Effect of composted manure on soil chemical properties and nitrogen use by grain sorghum. J Prod Agric 5:153–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Subedi KD, Ma BL (2005) Nitrogen uptake and partitioning in stay-green and leafy maize hybrids. Crop Sci 45:740–747

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uhart SA, Andrade FH (1995a) Nitrogen deficiency in maize. I. Effects on crop growth, development, dry-matter partitioning and kernel set. Crop Sci 35:1376–1383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uhart SA, Andrade FH (1995b) Nitrogen deficiency in maize. II. Carbon-nitrogen interaction effects on kernel number and grain yield. Crop Sci 35:1384–1389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welch LF, Mulvaney DL, Oldham MG, Boone LV, Pendleton LW (1971) Corn yields with fall, spring, and sidedress nitrogen. Agron J 81:119–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zebarth BJ, Paul JW, Schmidt O, McDougall R (1996) Influence of the time and rate of liquid-manure application on yield and nitrogen utilization of silage corn in south coastal British Columbia. Can J Soil Sci 76:153–164

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Professors N. Fotiadis and P. Gerakis, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, for their critical review of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece

    Christos A. Dordas

  2. Department of Agronomy, Farm of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thermi, 570 01, Greece

    Anastasios S. Lithourgidis

  3. Laboratory of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece

    Theodora Matsi & Nikolaos Barbayiannis

Authors
  1. Christos A. Dordas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anastasios S. Lithourgidis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Theodora Matsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nikolaos Barbayiannis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christos A. Dordas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dordas, C.A., Lithourgidis, A.S., Matsi, T. et al. Application of liquid cattle manure and inorganic fertilizers affect dry matter, nitrogen accumulation, and partitioning in maize. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 80, 283–296 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9143-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9143-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation