Steve Bartels, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Butler County, Ohio
To evaluate the benefits of applying 9-19-9 fertilizer directly to the seeds as a pop-up fertilization program in corn. This was measured by comparison of initial stand and yield at harvest.
| Cooperator: | Gerber Farms | Soil test: | pH 6.5, P 96ppm, K 122 |
| County: | Butler | ppm, CEC 11 meq/100g | |
| Township: | Wayne | Fertilizer: | See Methods |
| Drainage: | Somewhat poorly drained | Planting date: | May 25, 2002 |
| Soil type: | Raub silt loam, Fincastle | Planting Rate: | 33,000 seeds/A |
| silt loam | Row width: | 30 inch | |
| Tillage: | Reduced till | Herbicide: | Bicep II Magnum 1 qt/A |
| Previous crop: | Soybeans | AAtrex 90 1 lb/A | |
| Variety: | Golden Harvest 2495 | Harvest date: | October 17, 2002 |
Plots either received pop up application of 4 gallons of 9-19-9 (3.5-7.5-3.5 lb/A) applied directly on the seed or they received no starter fertilizer. All plots also received 150 lb/A of 21-0-0 and 150 lb/A of 0-0-60 broadcast in the fall. All plots also received 185-lb/A anhydrous ammonia preplant.
The stand counts were evaluated by counting plants with in 1/196 of an acre in three locations within each plot. The yield was determined by weighing all the corn from each 0.742-acre plot and adjusting to 14.5% moisture. Each plot was 30 feet wide.
The experiment design is a completely randomized block design with four replications.
Table 1. Corn Plant Population and Yield.
| Treatment | Initial Population | Yield | Moisture |
| plants/A | bu/A | % | |
| No pop up | 32,005 | 116.9 | 13.7 |
| Pop up | 32,250 | 120.4 | 13.9 |
| LSD (0.05) | NS | NS | NS |
| F test | <1 | <1 | <1 |
The cost of the pop-up treatment was $9.00/acre. While there was a measured increase in initial stand and yield for the pop-up treatment vs. no fertilizer, the differences were not statistically significant. This year yields were lower than expected. We may see a difference between treatments in a normal or better yielding year.
The author wishes to thank Adam Smith, Pioneer Seeds, for his help in harvesting the plots; Kevin Fall, OSU Extension Summer Intern; and Gary Gerber for their cooperation. Special recognition to Phil Rzewnicki, OSU Extension, Program Specialist, Horticulture and Crop Science, for providing statistical analysis of the data.
For additional information, contact:
Steve Bartels
Ohio State University Extension, Butler County
1810 Princeton Road
Hamilton, OH 45011
513-887-3722
bartels.2@osu.edu