EFFECT OF PLACEMENTS AND LEVELS OF FERTILIZER

Transcription

1 NETTLES AND HULBURT: FERTILIZER LEVELS AND PLACEMENT 185 EFFECT OF PLACEMENTS AND LEVELS OF FERTILIZER ON THE YIELD OF VEGETABLES1 V. F. Nettles nd W. C. Hulurt2 Astrct Fertilizer plcement trils using three levels of fertilizer were conducted t Ginesville dur ing the period of 1962 to 1966, with cucumers, ens, peppers nd cge. Although responses were ttined with some fertilizer plcement, no method ws found superior for ll crops, nor ws ny method consistently outstnding for ny one crop, nd often no response ws found. In generl, when differences were oserved, yields of cge nd cucumers, ut not pep pers nd ens, were incresed y the plce ment of nds of fertilizer 2% inches to ech side nd 2^ inches elow the plnt in compri son to single nd t this spcing. A highlow, doule nd ppliction resulted in higher yields with ens thn the single row pplic tion in two of three trils. Increses in the level of fertilizer did not lwys result in greter yields. In ll tests only one interction of the plcement s with levels of fertilizer ws found. Yields of cge in 1966 showed mrked increse t medium level of fertilizer using doule nd or comintion of rodcsting nd doule nds. Introduction In the fiscl yer ending June 30, 1966, there were 1,554,091 tons of mixed fertilizer reported used in Florid (7). A sizele portion of this tonnge ws employed in the production of vegetle crops nd ws pplied to these crops in mny diverse wys. It ws the purpose of this present investigtion to evlute severl methods of fertilizer ppliction using precision equipment to determine if fertilizer for vege tles could e used more efficiently. Literture Review Mny of the erly studies with plcement of fertilizer were conducted with gronomic crops. i Florid Agriculturl Experiment Sttions Journl Ser ies No Horticulturist, University of Florid, Ginesville, nd Agriculturl "Engineer, Agriculturl Engineering Reserch Division; Agriculturl Reserch Service, U.S. Deprtment of Agriculture, Athens, Georgi. However, out 1930, ttention ws directed to field studies with vegetle crops. Cumings, et l. (2) in 1931 reported from en trils on minerl soils in Florid tht est stnds nd highest yield were otined with plcing the fertilizer in nds to the side nd eneth the seed. Similr results were reported y Syre nd Cumings (6) for cnnery pes in New York. Nettles (5) reported tht side plcement in trils in Florid incresed yields of ens nd cucumers ut tomtoes nd peppers were le to efficiently use rodcst pplictions. Accurcy of plcement ws reported to gretly ffect the yield of pottoes y Cumings nd Hoglnd (3), nd this need for precision in plcement of fertilizer ws further stressed y Bur, et l. (1). Improvement in equipment for the ppliction hs een mde since the erlier experiments, nd it ws with such improved precision mchines s reported in 1956 (4) tht the tests were conducted. Mterils nd Methods Fertilizer plcement trils with severl vege tles were conducted t Ginesville, Florid, from 1962 through 1966, comined with study of levels of fertilizer. All experiments were con ducted under irrigted conditions. Trnsplnted crops, cge nd peppers, were plnted using the USD A Specil Mchine No. F 75 equipped with topdelivery hopper nd continuous elt to ssure ccurte fertilizer delivery oth in qulity nd plcement. Seeded crops, cucumers nd ens, were plnted using the USDA Specil Mchine No. FJ 44 equipped with continuous elt for fertilizer delivery. s tested with one or more crops were: 1. Single nd 2% inches to one side, 2% inches elow seed or plnt level. 2. Doule nds 2^ inches to ech side, 2"Vz inches elow seed or plnt level. 3. Brodcst nd nds hlf of totl fer tilizer rodcst in 18 inch nd nd stirred with surfce soil, hlf of ferti lizer pplied in doule nds s in Tretment 2.

2 186 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, Doule nds (V2 high Y2 low) hlf of fertilizer in nd 2V2 inches to one side nd 2V2 inches elow, remin ing hlf in nd 2Y2 inches on the opposite side nd 6 inches elow the seed or plnt. 5. Doule nds (% high % low) One fourth of fertilizer in nd: 2V2 inches elow, remining three fourths in single nd 2Y2 inches on the op posite side nd 6 inches elow seed or plnt. Levels of 688 fertilizer per cre tested were 800, 1,100 nd 1,400 pounds per cre for ens; 1,200, 1,800 nd 2,400 for cge nd peppers; nd 1,000 nd 1,500 for cucumers in 1962 nd 1,000, 1,500 nd 2,000 for other yers with cucumers. In 1962, hlf of the fertilizer ws pplied using plcement s with cucumers with the remining hlf pplied s sidedressing 30 dys fter plnting. In 1964, 80 percent of the fertilizer ws pplied y the plcement s with cucumers with 20 percent pplied s sidedressing 30 dys fter plnting. Cge, in 1965 nd 1966, ws lso fertilized with 80 percent of the sic fertilizer t plnting nd 20 percent s sidedressing. In ll other crops the entire sic ppliction ws pplied t plnting. Uniform sidedressing pplictions consisting of nitrogen nd pots sium were mde fter hevy rins to cge in 1964 nd 1965, peppers in 1964 nd 1966, nd cucumers in Four vegetle crops were grown during the experiment. Ashley cucumers were grown s Fll crop on Arredond fine sndy soil in 1962 nd 1964 nd on Knph fine snd in Yolo Wonder pepper strins were grown s Spring crop on Arredond fine snd in 1963, 1964 nd Hrvester en ws grown s Spring crop on Knph fine snd in 1963 while Contender nd Provider 60 ens were grown s Spring crops in 1964 nd 1966, re spectively, on Arredoni fine snd. Mrion Mr ket cge ws hrvested in the erly Spring for four yers from plots on Knph fine snd. All fertilizer plcement s nd fer tilizer levels were rrnged in rndomized locks nd nlyzed fctorilly. The replictions with cucumers in 1964 were reduced to three due to severe erosion, ut this nd ll other vegetles tested were hrvested from 4 to 6 replictions in other tests. Tretments were tested in single row plots with from 21 to 46 feet of row eing hrvested for record. Results nd Discussion Cucumer This crop ws grown three yers nd no effect on yield of mrketle cucumers (U.S. Fncy nd U.S. Choice grdes) resulted from the severl plcement methods except in 1963 (Tle 1). The plcement of the fertilizer in this yer in doule nds 2Y2 inches to the side nd 2V2 inches elow the seeds doule nds in comintion with rodcsting onehlf of the fertilizer, or the equl doule nds t highlow ppliction resulted in incresed yields over other s. Yields in 1962 of cu cumers were not incresed s shown in Tle 2 Tle 1. Effect of severl fertilizer plcement s on the verge yield of mrketle cucumers.* YieldCwt./cre Single nd Doule nds 3. Brodcst nd nds 4. Doule nds (1/2 high1/2 low) 5. Doule nds (1/4 high3/4 low) *Within ech column, vlues followed y different letters re significntly different t the 5 percent level.

3 NETTLES AND HULBURT: FERTILIZER LEVELS AND PLACEMENT 187 Tle 2. Effect of levels of fertilizer on the verge yield of vegetles.* Vegetle Cucumer Pepper Ben Cge Level of fertilizer Ls./cre 1,000 1,500 2,000 1,200 1,800 2, ,100 1,400 1,200 1,800 2, YieldCwt./cre c c c ^Within ech column for ech vegetle, vlues followed y different letter re significntly different t the 5 percent level. y rising the totl ppliction throughout the seson from 1,000 nd 1,500 pounds of 688 fertilizer. Yields were incresed y this ltter level of fertilizer in 1963 nd A further increse ws noted when fertilizer level of 2,000 pounds per cre ws tested with cucumers in An interction etween levels of ferti lizer nd time of ppliction ws found in When 80 percent of the sic ppliction ws mde t plnting nd 20 percent pplied s sidedressing, higher yields were otined with ech incresing increment of fertilizer; how ever, such increses were not otined with in cresing increments when the entire sic p pliction ws pplied t plnting (Tle 3). This response in 1964, s well s the reltively low yields, ws considered to e the result of hevy rins which occurred susequent to plnt ing ut prior to the sidedressing ppliction. Peppers The plcing of the fertilizer in 1963, in single nd 2 Ms inches to the side nd 2^ inches elow the plnt nd the highlow ppli Tle 3. Effect of levels of fertilizer nd time of ppliction on the verge yield of mrketle cucumers Time of ppliction YieldCwt./cre Levels of fertilizerpounds/cre 200 1,500 2,000 If Averge for time of ppliction At plnting 80% t plnting 20% sidedressing Averge for fertilizer levels F Vlues: Time of ppliction highly significnt Level of fertilizer highly significnt Time of ppliction x level of fertilizer significnt

4 188 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1966 Tle 4. Effect of severl fertilizer plcement s on the verge yield of mrketle peppers.* Single nd 2. Doule nds 3. Brodcst nd nds 4. Doule nds (1/2 high1/2 low) 5. Doule nds (1/4 high3/4 low) YieldCwt./cre *Within ech column, vlues followed y different letters re significntly different t the 5 percent level. ction using equl mounts of fertilizer, pro duced higher yield of mrketle peppers (U.S. No. 1 nd U.S. No. 2 grdes) thn the highlow ppliction with onefourth nd threefourths of the fertilizer 2% inches to the side nd 2% inches nd 6 inches elow the plnt respectively (Tle 4). Other s pro duced comprle yields. In 1964, yields from oth highlow plcement methods, using equl mounts of fertilizer in ech nd or threefourths of the fertilizer in the lower nd nd onefourth in the upper nd, were lower thn other plcement methods. No differences in yield resulted from the severl plcement s in In two of the three yers tht peppers were grown, 1963 nd 1964, the highest yields of mr ketle fruit were hrvested from plots receiv ing 2,400 pounds of 688 fertilizer per cre in comprison to lower levels (Tle 2.). Yields from plots receiving 1,800 pounds of the ove nlysis were equivlent to those which were only fertilized with 1,200 pounds per cre. No differences in yield were oserved s result of the severl fertilizer levels in Hevy rins resulting from hurricne Alm reduced the effectiveness of the initil ppliction. No interctions etween fertilizer plcement meth ods nd fertilizer levels were found in ny seson. Bens The yield of ens ws not ffected y plcement methods in 1963; however, yields from this crop in other yers were influenced (Tle 5). Yields of ens in 1963 were rel tively low from ll s, nd susequent plnting of vegetles in this loction indictes tht other nutrients thn those supplied were limiting fctors for growth. In nother field in Tle 5. Effect of severl fertilizer plcement s on the verge yield of ens.* YieldCwt./cre Single Doule Brodcst Doule Doule nd nds nd nds nds nds (1/2 (1/4 high1/2 high3/4 low) low) e c ^Within ech column, vlues followed y different letters re significntly different t the 5 percent level.

5 NETTLES AND HULBURT: FERTILIZER LEVELS AND PLACEMENT ISO 1964 en yields were incresed y plcing equl mounts of fertilizer in nds 2V2 inches on ech side of the seed with one nd 2x/2 inches nd the other 6 inches elow the seed in com prison to ens fertilized y plcing onefourth nd threefourths of the fertilizer t these re spective depths. This highlow ppliction ws lso etter thn the use of single nd 2V2 inches to the side of the seed or the rodcst ppliction of onehlf of the fertilizer with the reminder in doule nd. Comprle yields were otined with the highlow nd plcement nd the use of doule nd 2V2 inches to the side nd 2% inches elow the seed. High est yielding s produced en plnts hving deeper green color t hrvest time. Yields from highlow plcement plots in 1966 were comprle to plots which hd onehlf of the fertilizer rodcst with the remining hlf in doule nd 2% inches to the side nd 2V2 inches elow the seed. Incresing the levels of fertilizer hd no effect on yield of ens in 1963, ut in 1964 nd 1966, the ppliction of 1,400 pounds per cre resulted in incresed yields of ens s compred to plots reciving 800 pounds (Tle 2). In 1964, yields were incresed with ech dditionl increment of fertilizer. However, in 1966, the yields from plots with 1,400 pounds of fertilizer were equivlent to yields from plots with 1,100 pounds per cre. No interctions were oserved etween methods of plcement nd levels of fertilizer in ny seson. Cge The effects of plcement methods on yield of cge re presented in Tle 6. All crops were grown under dverse environmentl conditions, principlly hevy rins nd low tem pertures. Plnt growth ws noticely slowed y cold wether in 1963, 1964 nd Yields in 1963 were lower with highlow plcement with onefourth nd threefourths of the fertili zer plced t 2% to 6 inches respecively s com pred to the yields from the other s. No differences in yields s result of plcement s were found in In 1965 nd 1966, the plcing of n equl mount of fertilizer in nds 2% inches on ech side nd 2% inches elow the plnt resulted in higher yields s compred to plots fertilized with only single nd or where the highlow ppliction ws mde. Yields of cge from plots with the doule nd plcement were equivlent to those otined from plots with the doule nd plce ment were equivlent to those otined from plots where hlf of the fertilizer ws rodcst nd hlf plced in doule nds. However, n interction of plcement s with level of fertilizers ws found in the 1966 experiment (Tle 7). Yields in 1966 were incresed t the level of 1,800 pounds per cre more effectively when the fertilizer ws pplied in the doule nd 2V2 inches elow the plnt or y rod csting hlf of the fertilizer with the reminder in doule nd in comprison to other plce ment s. Yields of cge were incresed y the use of 2,400 pounds s compred to 1,200 pounds per cre of 688 fertilizer in 1963 nd 1965 s shown in Tle 2. In the ltter yer the use of this high level of fertilizer lso resulted in lrger yield thn the use of 1,800 pounds per cre. In 1965, the prctice of pplying 80 per Tle 6. Effect of severl fertilizer plcement s on the verge yield of cge.* Single Doule nd nds Brodcst nd nds Doule nds (1/2 high1/2 low) Doule nds (1/4 high3/4. low) m *Within ech column, vlues followed y different letters re significntly different t the 5 percent level.

6 190 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1966 Tle 7. Effect of fertilizer plcement nd levels of fertilizer on the yield of cge YieldCwt./cre Levels of fertilizerls./cre 1,200 1,800 2^400 Averge for plcement 1. Single nd Doule nds Brodcst nd nds Doule nds (1/2 high1/2 low) Averge for fertilizer levels F vlues: highly significnt Levels of fertilizer significnt x levels of fertilizer significnt cent of the sic fertilizer t plnting nd the reminder s sidedressing resulted in n verge yield of Cwt. per cre. This yield ws significntly greter thn the Cwt. per cre hrvested from plots receiving the en tire sic ppliction t plnting. An interc tion etween the levels of fertilizer nd the methods of plcement ws found in 1966 (Tle 8). When the fertilizer ws pplied in single nd higher yield ws otined y distriuting ll of the fertilizer t plnting; however, with the highlow method the higher yield ws o tined y pplying 80 percent of the sic fer tilizer t plnting. No differences in verge yield resulted from the min effect s for time of ppliction in Tle 8. Effect of fertilizer plcement nd time of ppliction on the yield of cge At plnting YieldCwt./cre Time of ppliction 80% t plnting 20% sidedressing Averge for plcement 1. Single nd Doule nds Brodcst nd nds Doule nds (1/2 high1/2 low) Averge for time of ppliction F vlues: highly significnt Time of ppliction not significnt x time of ppliction significnt

7 PREVATT AND LUNDY: SOUTHERN PEAS TRIIODOBENZOIC 191 LITERATURE CITED 1. Bur, Krl, F. T. Tremly nd G. A. Cumings Fertilizer plcement studies in Western Wshington. Proceedings of the Twentysixth Annul Meeting of the Ntionl Joint Committee on Fertilizer ppliction. Ntion l Plnt Food Institute. Wshington, D.C Cumings, G. A., A. L. Shrp, J. J. Skinner, G. M. Bhrt nd G. H. Serviss Mchine plcement of fertilizer for snp ens in Florid. U.S.D.A. Cir Cumings, G. A. nd G. V. C. Houghlnd Fertilizer plcement for pottoes. U.S.D.A. Tech Bui Hulurt, W. C Directory of specij fertilizer ppliction mchines nd devices used in reserch. Ntionl Plnt Food Institute. Wshington, D. C. 5. Nettles, V. F Results from three methods of pplying fertilizer to certin vegetles. Proc. Amer. Sco. Hort. Sci. 36: Syre, C. B. nd G. A. Cumings Fertilizer plcement for cnnery pes. New York Stte Agr. Exp. St. Bui Woodhm, Lowell Summry report of mixed fertilizer consumed in Florid for fiscl yer July 1, 1965 June 30, Florid Stte Deprtment of Agriculture Inspection Division. Tllhssee, Florid. PROGRESS REPORT ON THE RESPONSE OF SOUTHERN PEAS TO TRIIODOBENZOIC ACID UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS R. W. Prevtt1 nd H. W. Lundy2 Astrct Three rtes of TIBA were pplied on two vrieties of southern pes during two different growing sesons. Reltively low quntities of TIBA suppressed the runners when the plnts were spryed etween the first nd second tri folite stge. The TIBAtreted ushes were more compct with the rcemes protruding well ove the leves. Both the unshelled nd shelled yields were higher from the TIBAtreted plnts thn from the untreted plnts. Introduction The ntiuxin, 2, 3, 5 triiodoenzoic cid, (TIBA), hs een used to increse the florl development in plnts. Whiting nd Murry (2) found tht, with pplictions of 0.1 to 1% TIBA, uxiliry structures in the Red Kidney en exceeded those of control plnts y the fifth dy nd tht flowering of treted plnts con siderly preceeded tht of controls. Greer nd Anderson (1) found tht soyens treted with TIBA t the eginning of flowering cused the plnts to chnge from vegettive to reproductive development more rpidly thn norml. The ntiuxin chemicl lso cused morphologicl chnges in lef size nd orient tion nd cnopy shpe of rows. As result of these chnges the seed yield ws incresed. TIBA hs shown its mximum effect on legumi nous plnts. With this ckground the nti uxin ws tried on southern pe vrieties nd is reported in this pper. llnterntionl Minerls nd Chemicl Corportion, Mul erry. 2Suwnnee Vlley Experiment Sttion, Live Ok. Experimentl In preliminry trils where the ntiuxin, 2, 3, 5triiodoenzoic cid (TIBA) ws spryed on southern pe vrieties t the preloom stges of growth, there were notle chnges in the growth hits of the plnt when the plnts egn to set fruit. The ushes ecme more compct, runners were suppressed nd the rcemes ering the fruiting pods protruded well ove the leves. These oservtions on lckeye pe vriety prompted further experi ments to evlute the effects of TIBA on yields. In the spring of 1965 the vriety Cliforni Blckeye No. 5 ws plnted in 36" rows with plnt popultion of pproximtely 47,000 plnts per cre. The pes were dequtely fertilized. These pes were grown on Fort Mede sndy lom soil in Polk County. When the plnts hd etween two nd three expnded trifolite leves they were spryed with solutions contining 0, 10, 30, nd 50 ppm of TIBA nd the surfctnt, Tween20, t concentrtion of 500 ppm, ws used with ech TIBA rte. Ech concentrtion ws replicted three times in rndomized lock design. Ap proximtely 75 gllons of solution per cre ws used. The solutions were spryed in 12inch nd directly over the plnt nd the leves were wet to slight runoff point. All of the pes were picked y hnd. There ws only one picking mde s the mjority of the pes were mture t one time. In 1966 similr experiment ws conducted t the Suwnnee Vlley Experiment Sttion in Live Ok, Florid. The Texs Crem No. 40 ws the vriety of southern pes in this experi ment. The seed were plnted in 40inch rows with the length of the row eing long enough