Phosphorus Fertilizer for Corn; How Should it be Applied?

In 1968, soil phosphorus deficiency was known to limit yield of small grain crops, alfalfa, potatoes and corn in North Dakota as evidenced from yield responses that have been obtained from application of phosphorus fertilizers on many soils throughout the state. Selecting the most suitable method of applying fertilizer to correct soil phosphorus deficiency varies with, but is not limited to, crop characteristics such as total need, rooting habit, and growth stage when maximum uptake occurs, and with economic factors such as purchasing power and consideration of return on the investment. Methods of applying phosphate fertilizers to corn in North Dakota have been investigated for several years. These studies show that a combination of band plus broadcast application of phosphorus produced larger yield increases than the broadcast treatment at four sites. These are discussed in this article. Banded phosphorus fertilizer superimposed over broadcast phosphorus increased corn grain yield over a broadcast treatment alone in 50 per cent of the responding trials