Response of Element Distribution of Various Organs of Maize to Fertilizer Application

Abstract

The effect of fertilizer application on biomass dry weight and element distribution of various organs of maize was investigated from the aspect of microscopic view to disclose the internal mechanism of fertilizer effect on crop. Five fertilizer treatments: no fertilizer (CK), nitrogen phosphorus fertilizer (NP), nitrogen potassium fertilizer (NK), phosphorus potassium (PK), and nitrogen phosphorus potassium fertilizer (NPK) were designed. Field experiment on the response of biomass dry weight and N, P, K, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn element distribution of stem, leaf and seed of maize (Zea mays L.) to different fertilizer treatments application was carried out. The results showed that dry weight and element content of various organs of maize were different. N content of various organs followed this order leaf > seed > stem; P content of various organs was seed > leaf > stem; K content was stem > leaf > seed; and Fe content was leaf > stem > seed. Fertilizer application reduced the differences of N, P, K, and Fe contents of various organs, and changed the size order of the dry weight and the Cu and Zn contents of leaf, seed and stem. Except for individual treatment, the response direction of N, P and Fe elements to fertilizer application was similar to Cu and Zn. The response of element content of various organs of maize to different fertilizer combinations was also different. The response extent of N, P and K major elements to fertilizer application was larger than microelement of Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn; the response extent of stem and leaf was larger than seed; the response to NPK fertilizer treatment was bigger than NP, NK and PK. In the whole, response differences of element distribution to various fertilizer treatments were not remarkable. Besides, element distribution of various organs of maize was also influenced by the mutual effect of fertilizer varieties. The response direction and extent of various element distributions to different fertilizer treatments had both similarities and differences. Adjusting fertilizer application could change the biomass dry weight and element distribution of various organs of maize, thus promote the uptake and cycle of nutrient. This investigation could provide useful information for high production. © 2010 Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.