PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION METHODS AND AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev8n2-060Keywords:
Fertilizers, Phosphate Fertilization, Productivity, Zea MaysAbstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main agricultural crops in Brazil, and the efficiency of phosphate fertilization is decisive for its productive performance. In tropical soils, phosphorus availability and the mode of application can interfere with nutrient uptake, affecting growth and yield. This study aimed to evaluate different forms of phosphorus application on the development and productivity of maize at the UNIVAG experimental field in Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The experiment was carried out between July and November 2021, in a randomized complete block design, with five replications and four treatments: application in single furrow, double furrow, broadcast, and control. At sowing, 30 kg N ha⁻¹, 120 kg P ha⁻¹, and 60 kg K ha⁻¹ were applied; in topdressing, 180 kg N ha⁻¹ and 90 kg K ha⁻¹ were used. Sowing was performed manually, at a spacing of 0.45 m, and plots were managed according to technical recommendations for the crop. Plant height, stem diameter, and grain yield were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and means were compared using Tukey’s test at 5% probability. No significant effects of the phosphorus application methods were observed for stem diameter (mean of 20.6 mm) or grain yield (mean of 9,051.7 kg ha-1). On the other hand, a significant effect was verified for plant height, with double-furrow (2.34 m) and broadcast (2.32 m) applications showing higher values compared to single furrow (2.20 m) and control (2.12 m). It was concluded that, under the evaluated conditions, the different forms of phosphorus application did not alter maize grain yield but influenced vegetative growth, with double-furrow and broadcast applications favoring greater plant height without translating into productive gains.
Downloads
References
Ampong, K., Penn, C. J., Camberato, J., Quinn, D., & Williams, M. (2025). Phosphorus utilization efficiency among corn era hybrids released over seventy-five years. Agronomy, 15(6), 1407. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061407. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061407
Buczko, U., van Laak, M., & Eichler-Löbermann, B. (2018). Re-evaluation of the yield response to phosphorus fertilization based on meta-analyses of long-term field experiments. Ambio, 47(Suppl. 1), 50–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-017-0971-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-017-0971-1
Chen, X., Ren, H., Zhang, J., et al. (2023). Changes induced by multi-stage water stress on maize plant development, root morphology and water use. Agricultural Water Management, 289, 108570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108570. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108570
Chen, X., Ren, H., Zhang, J., et al. (2024). Deep phosphorus fertilizer placement increases maize productivity by improving root–shoot coordination and photosynthetic performance. Soil & Tillage Research, 235, 105915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2023.105915. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2023.105915
Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento (Conab). (2025). Acompanhamento da safra brasileira de grãos – Safra 2024/25. https://www.conab.gov.br
Contini, E., Mota, M. M., Marra, R., et al. (2019). Milho – Caracterização e desafios tecnológicos. EMBRAPA. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342476155_SERIE_DESAFIOS_DO_AGRONEGOCIO_BRASILEIRO_NT2_Milho_-Caracterizacao_e_Desafios_Tecnologicos.
Dube, E., & Chimdi, A. (2022). Phosphorus use efficiency and maize (Zea mays L.) production under different placement methods. International Journal of Agronomy, 2022, 8590671. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8590671.
Feng, X., et al. (2024). Subsoil tillage improved the maize stalk lodging resistance under high density. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, 1396182. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1396182. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1396182
Freiling, M., von Tucher, S., & Schmidhalter, U. (2022). Factors influencing phosphorus placement and effects on yield and yield parameters: A meta-analysis. Soil & Tillage Research, 216, 105257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105257. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105257
Huang, H., Du, Y., Ma, X., et al. (2024). Influence of the depth of nitrogen–phosphorus fertilizer placement in soil on maize yielding and carbon footprint in the Loess Plateau of China. Agronomy, 14(4), 805. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040805. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040805
Kong, F., et al. (2024). Ecological factors regulate stalk lodging within dense planting maize. Field Crops Research, 317, 109529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109529. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109529
Laan, M., Strawn, D. G., Kayler, Z. E., Cade-Menun, B. J., & Möller, G. (2024). Phosphorus availability and speciation in soils amended with upcycled dairy-waste nutrients. Frontiers in Chemical Engineering, 5, 1303357. https://doi.org/10.3389/fceng.2023.1303357. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fceng.2023.1303357
Mallarino, A. P., Butler, C., & Havlovic, B. (2021). Broadcast vs. planter-band placement for corn and soybean. Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms Progress Reports. https://iastatedigitalpress.com/farmreports/article/id/14370/.
Mahmood, A., et al. (2025). Drought stress diminishes phosphorus uptake and plant growth in maize under different field-capacity levels. BMC Plant Biology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06092-x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06092-x
Paes, M. C. D. (2006). Aspectos físicos, químicos e tecnológicos do grão de milho. Embrapa Milho e Sorgo – Circular Técnica (INFOTECA-E). https://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/infoteca/handle/doc/489376.
Penn, C. J., & Camberato, J. J. (2019). A critical review on soil chemical processes that control how soil pH affects phosphorus availability to plants. Agriculture, 9(6), 120. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9060120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9060120
Richardson, A. E., & Simpson, R. J. (2011). Soil microorganisms mediating phosphorus availability: Update on microbial phosphorus. Plant Physiology, 156(3), 989–996. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.111.175448. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.111.175448
Ritchie, W. R.; Hanway, J. J.; Benson, G. O. How a corn plant develops. Ames, 24p., 1993. Disponível em: https://publications.iowa.gov/18027/1/How%20a%20corn%20plant%20develops001.pdf Acesso em 21 de novembro de 2025.
Robertson, D. J., Brenton, Z. W., Kresovich, S., & Cook, D. D. (2022). Maize lodging resistance: Stalk architecture is a stronger predictor of stalk bending strength than chemical composition. Biosystems Engineering, 219, 124–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2022.04.010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2022.04.010
Rosentrater, K. A., & Zhang, W. (2021). Selected physical and flowability properties of evolving distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Frontiers in Energy Research, 9, 722899. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2021.722899. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2021.722899
Roy, E. D., Richards, P. D., Martinelli, L. A., et al. (2016). The phosphorus cost of agricultural intensification in the tropics. Nature Plants, 2, 16043. https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2016.43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2016.43
Sekhon, R. S., Tang, H., Skibbe, D. S., et al. (2016). Stover composition in maize and sorghum reveals remarkable genetic variation in non-structural carbohydrates. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 822. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00822. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00822
Shah, A. N., et al. (2021). Combating dual challenges in maize under high planting density: Stem lodging and kernel abortion. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 699085. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.699085. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.699085
Sharifi, S., Shi, S., Obaid, H., Dong, X., & He, X. (2024). Differential effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization rates and fertilizer placement methods on P accumulations in maize. Plants, 13(13), 1778. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131778. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131778
Shen, J., Yuan, L., Zhang, J., Li, H., Bai, Z., Chen, X., Zhang, W., & Zhang, F. (2011). Phosphorus dynamics: From soil to plant. Plant Physiology, 156(3), 997–1005. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.111.175232. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.111.175232
Sousa, D. M. G., & Lobato, E. (Eds.). (2004). Cerrado: Correção do solo e adubação (2ª ed.). Brasília: Embrapa. http://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/infoteca/handle/doc/555355.
Souza Buzo, A. C., et al. (2023). Effect of mycorrhizae on phosphate fertilization efficiency and maize growth under field conditions. Scientific Reports, 13, 1809. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30128-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30128-7
Stubbs, C. J., Larson, R., & Cook, D. D. (2022). Maize stalk stiffness and strength are primarily determined by morphological factors. Scientific Reports, 12, 720. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04114-w. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04114-w
Sun, Y., Zhang, X., Li, Q., et al. (2023). Phosphorus partitioning contributes to phosphorus use efficiency during grain filling in Zea mays. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1223532. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1223532. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1223532
Vetterlein, D., Phalempin, M., Lippold, E., et al. (2022). Root hairs matter at field scale for maize shoot growth and nutrient uptake, but root trait plasticity is primarily triggered by texture and drought. Plant and Soil, 478(1–2), 119–141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05434-0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05434-0
Wang, Z., et al. (2022). Phosphorus biogeochemistry regulated by carbonates in soil. Environmental Research, 215, 114423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114423. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114423
Withers, P. J. A., do Carmo Horta, A., Rodrigues, M., et al. (2018). Transitions to sustainable management of phosphorus in Brazilian agriculture. Scientific Reports, 8, 2537. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-20887-z. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-20887-z
Yasin, S., et al. (2024). Morphological and physiological response of maize (Zea mays L.) to drought stress during reproductive stage. Agronomy, 14(8), 1718. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081718. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081718
Zhang, P., et al. (2023). The relationships between maize (Zea mays L.) lodging resistance and yield formation depend on dry matter allocation to ear and stem. The Crop Journal, 11, 258–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2022.04.020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2022.04.020
