Abstract
Corn ( Zea mays L.) early growth often is slower in no‐tilled than tilled soils. Starter fertilization usually increases early plant growth but has inconsistent effects on grain yield. This study assessed (i) starter and tillage effects on corn grain yield, dry weight (DW), and N, P, and K uptake at the V5–V6 stage and (ii) the within‐field variation of responses. Seven replicated strip trials were conducted on fields previously managed with no‐tillage using yield monitors and global positioning systems (GPS). Treatments were no‐starter and liquid starter with or without tillage and were applied in addition to farmers’ normal broadcast NPK rates. Starter applied 3.9 to 27.2 kg N ha −1 , 5.2 to 24.2 kg P ha −1 , and 0 to 4.1 kg K ha −1 across fields. The tillage treatment was spring disking or strip tillage. Tillage increased ( P ≤ 0.05) yield in four fields (210–500 kg ha −1 ), starter increased yield in three fields (93–522 kg ha −1 ), and both treatments usually increased DW and nutrient uptake. There were no treatment interactions. Tillage and starter fertilization did not influence yield variability but increased DW and nutrient uptake variability. Soil test results (P, K, pH, and organic matter) or soil series could not always identify fields where starter would increase yield. However, in two fields, starter increased yield only in areas with Bray‐1 soil P < 16 mg P kg −1 . On average, tillage increased yield 2.5%, starter increased yield 1.1%, and DW or nutrient uptake responses to either treatment were 20 to 30%. Large DW and nutrient uptake responses to starter did not translate into large or frequent yield responses.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Tillage significantly increased yield in four fields by 210–500 kg ha −1.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tillage increased ( P ≤ 0.05) yield in four fields (210–500 kg ha −1 ), starter increased yield in three fields (93–522 kg ha −1 ), and both treatments usually increased DW and nutrient uptake”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Starter fertilizer increased yield in three fields by 93–522 kg ha −1.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tillage increased ( P ≤ 0.05) yield in four fields (210–500 kg ha −1 ), starter increased yield in three fields (93–522 kg ha −1 ), and both treatments usually increased DW and nutrient uptake”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Both tillage and starter usually increased dry weight and nutrient uptake.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“both treatments usually increased DW and nutrient uptake”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The two treatments had no interaction.
- Outcome
- no treatment interactionse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There were no treatment interactions”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Tillage and starter did not change yield variability.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tillage and starter fertilization did not influence yield variability”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Tillage and starter increased dry weight and nutrient uptake variability.
- Treatment
- Tillage and starter fertilizatione2
- Outcome
- DW and nutrient uptake variabilitye0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“increased DW and nutrient uptake variability”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
e2“Tillage and starter fertilization did not influence yield variability”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil tests and soil series did not consistently identify fields with yield response to starter.
- Outcome
- identify fields where starter would increase yielde0
- Direction
- could not alwayse0
- Comparator
- soil seriese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Soil test results (P, K, pH, and organic matter) or soil series could not always identify fields where starter would increase yield”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
In two fields, starter increased yield only where Bray‐1 soil P was below 16 mg P kg −1.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“in two fields, starter increased yield only in areas with Bray‐1 soil P < 16 mg P kg −1”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean yield rose 2.5% with tillage.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“tillage increased yield 2.5%”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean yield rose 1.1% with starter.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“starter increased yield 1.1%”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Dry weight and nutrient uptake responses to either treatment were 20 to 30%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“DW or nutrient uptake responses to either treatment were 20 to 30%”
e1“Corn ( Zea mays L.)”
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