0044
Ammonium fertilization enhances nutrient uptake, specifically manganese and zinc, and growth of maize in unlimed and limed acidic sandy soil
Asif Naeem; Philipp Deppermann; Karl H. Mühling
Original research article
Greenhouse study
Corn
Manganese
Zinc
View source document
year
2023
Country
Germany
Abstract

Although NH4+ fertilization is known to acidify rhizosphere and enhance nutrient uptake, the effects on a nutrient-sufficient acidic soil amended with lime are not demonstrated. Thus, the influence of NH4+ fertilization of an unlimed and limed (3 g calcium carbonate per kg soil) acidic soil on the nutrient uptake and growth of maize was studied in comparison to NH4NO3 fertilization. The pH of limed rhizosphere soil was about two units higher than that of the unlimed soil. The maize plants were grown in pots under greenhouse conditions for about two months. The results showed that the pH of the NH4+-fertilized unlimed and limed soil was 0.54 and 0.15 units lower than the NH4NO3-fertilized soil. Liming negatively affected shoot and root dry matter production, whereas the NH4+-fertilized plants produced higher dry matter than the NH4NO3-fertilized plants, with significant difference of 28% in the limed soil only. Liming decreased Fe concentration in rhizosphere soil from 99 to 69 mg kg(-1) and decreased plant-available Mn the most (71%), whereas the NH4+-fertilized unlimed and limed soil had 48% and 21% higher Mn concentration than the respective NH4NO3-fertilized soils. Similarly limed rhizosphere soil had 50% lower plant-available Zn concentration than the unlimed soil, and the NH4+-fertilized soil had an 8% higher Zn concentration than the NH4NO3-fertilized unlimed soil. The liming negatively affected P, K, Mn, and Zn concentrations and contents in maize shoot to a lower degree in the NH4+-fertilized soil, whereas the positive effect of NH4+ on the nutrient concentration and contents was vigorous in the unlimed soil than the limed soil. It is concluded that NH4+ fertilization could be beneficial in enhancing nutrient uptake and growth of maize in both acidic and alkaline soils, despite the higher inherent plant-available concentrations of the nutrient in soil.

Keywords

NH4+ nutrition; rhizosphere acidification; micronutrients; soil liming; pH

Outcomes reported
Biomass
Soil properties
Nutrient uptake
Root traits
Soil properties
Synthesis
Key insight
Ammonium fertilization acidified the rhizosphere and partly offset liming-induced reductions in manganese and zinc availability and maize dry matter.
Limitations
Single-soil greenhouse pot experiment over 62 days without grain-yield or economic data.
Welland | Ontario | Canada‍
© 2024 VISTA Science & Technology. All right reserved.
Open Modal

Contact us

General Inquiries

For general inquiries, including partnership opportunities:
905 650 3857
info@vistast.com

Follow us

close modal