Steve D. Ruhl, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent
To evaluate the effect of adding sulfur and zinc to row starter fertilizer on yields of corn.
| Cooperator: | Tom Weiler | Fertilizer: | 206-70-99 lb./A actual N, |
| County: | Morrow | P2O5, K2O | |
| Nearest town: | Chesterville | Planting Date: | May 1, 2000 |
| Drainage: | Naturally well-drained | Planting Rate: | 30,100 seeds/A |
| Soil Type: | Sloan silty clay loam | Harvest Date: | October 23, 2000 |
| Tillage: | Conventional till | Herbicides: | PRE - Atrazine (1.5 lb./A), |
| Previous Crop: | Soybeans | Balance (1.0 oz./A) | |
| Variety: | Golden Harvest 2495 | POST Clarity (1pt./A) | |
| Soil test: | pH 7.0, P 23 ppm | Row width: | 30 inch |
| K 154 ppm |
This study is a split-planter design comparing starter fertilizer with starter fertilizer plus 4.1 lbs. per acre of sulfur and 0.22 lbs. per acre of zinc. The treatments were replicated four times. The size of each treatment plot was 3/10 of one acre (12 rows times 435 feet in length). The starter fertilizer used in the study was 20 gallons per acre (N 9.5 lbs., P2O5 22.5 lbs., and K2O 4.1 lbs.). The entire treatment area was harvested and weighed using a weigh wagon.
| Treatments | Yield (bu/A) |
| Starter Fertilizer | 197.5 |
| Starter Fertilizer plus S and Z | 195.2 |
| F = 1.7 CV = 1.3% |
NS |
Some companies are advocating the use of zinc and sulfur to increase yields of corn. This increases the cost of production and further limits the profit per acre. University studies previously conducted only support the use of zinc and sulfur under special soil conditions (low organic matter, soils high in pH and available phosphorus, mucks, or some peats). Plant analysis and field tests are ways to tell if the corn is responsive to these micronutrients. In this one-year, one-site study, the addition of zinc and sulfur to the starter fertilizer did not increase yields.
The author would like to thank Golden Harvest for the donation of seed used in this study. Also, thanks to Royster Clark for the sulfur and zinc used.
For additional information, contact:
Steve Ruhl
Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County
871 W. Marion Rd., Suite 102
Mt. Gilead, OH 43338
419-947-1070
ruhl.1@osu.edu