A FIELD COMPARISON STUDY OF AMMONIUM PHOSPHATES AND SUPERPHOSPHATE–UREA OR AMMONIUM NITRATE ON CORN (ZEA MAYS L.) GROWTH IN FIVE QUEBEC SOILS

Abstract

Effects of mono-, diammonium, and superphosphate with added urea or ammonium nitrate on corn (Zea mays L.) growth were studied in the field in 1971 and 1972. At the rate of 100 kg P₂O₅/ha, none of the carriers affected emergence of seedlings in five Quebec soils. Leaf P content at silking time was of little benefit in predicting P status of the plants, or in differentiating among the carriers. Phosphorous applications gave significant corn yield increases, with carriers performing alike when averaged over all sites. However, some yield differences among carriers occurred on some soil types and seasons. These carrier differences were not consistent and remain to be clarified. The ammonium phosphates compared with the check generally hastened maturity but reduced potassium levels in leaf tissue of corn.