Abstract
Maize yield is often limited by zinc (Zn) deficiency. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate maize yield response to Zn applied at four different rates, (ii) evaluate the yield response and agronomic efficiency of maize to the application of a complex fertilizer, MicroEssentials SZ (12N–40P–0K–10S–1Zn), compared to different rates of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) + ammonium sulfate (AS) + zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), and (iii) evaluate the association between tissue Zn concentration and soil-test Zn with the maize response to Zn fertilizer. Eleven experiments were carried out during the 2010, 2011, and 2012 growing seasons throughout eight states in the USA. Treatments consisted of four Zn rates of a physical blend of MAP + AS + ZnSO4 (0, 2.24, 4.48, 6.72, and 11.2 kg/ha Zn) and MicroEssentials SZ at a Zn rate of 2.24 kg/ha Zn. Nitrogen, phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) rates were balanced across treatments (40 kg/ha P, 22 kg/ha S) and fertilizers were broadcast and incorporated immediately prior to planting. Treatment and location main effects were significant (P < 0.001) on corn yields, whereas the interaction treatment × location was not (P = 0.33). Maize responded positively to Zn fertilization; average yields across locations increased from 10,540 kg ha−1 without Zn to 11,530 kg ha−1 with 11.21 kg Zn ha−1 applied as a physical blend. The yield response and Zn agronomic efficiency of maize with the application of the complex fertilizer at a rate of 2.24 kg Zn ha−1 averaged 1004 kg ha−1 and 448 kg maize kg Zn−1, respectively, significantly higher (P < 0.1) than the yield response and Zn agronomic efficiency with the application of a physical blend with the same Zn rate, which averaged 293 kg ha−1 and 131 kg maize kg Zn−1, respectively. The Zn concentration in plant tissue of unfertilized plots varied greatly and was not related to the maize response to Zn fertilizer (r = 0.01; P = 0.98). With respect to soil Zn, a negative but nonsignificant relationship was found between maize response to Zn fertilizer and soil-test Zn (r = −0.51; P = 0.16).
Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record; open copy licensed cc-by-nc-nd. Read at the source ↗
The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.
Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Treatment and location had significant main effects on corn yield.
Zea maysNot reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Treatment and location main effects were significant (P < 0.001) on corn yields”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The treatment-by-location interaction was not significant for corn yield.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the interaction treatment × location was not (P = 0.33)”
e1“on corn yields”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Zinc fertilization increased average maize yield from 10,540 to 11,530 kg ha−1 at the highest blend rate.
- Treatment
- 11.21 kg Zn ha−1 applied as a physical blende0
- Outcome
- average yieldse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 11,530 kg ha−1e0
- Qualifier
- 10,540 kg ha−1e0
- Comparator
- without Zne0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize responded positively to Zn fertilization; average yields across locations increased from 10,540 kg ha−1 without Zn to 11,530 kg ha−1 with 11.21 kg Zn ha−1 applied as a physical blend”
Claim · model-written summary
At equal zinc rate, complex fertilizer gave a significantly higher yield response than the physical blend.
- Treatment
- complex fertilizer at a rate of 2.24 kg Zn ha−1e0
- Outcome
- yield responsee0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 1004 kg ha−1e0
- Qualifier
- 293 kg ha−1e0
- Comparator
- physical blend with the same Zn ratee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The yield response and Zn agronomic efficiency of maize with the application of the complex fertilizer at a rate of 2.24 kg Zn ha−1 averaged 1004 kg ha−1 and 448 kg maize kg Zn−1, respectively, significantly higher (P < 0.1) than the yield response and Zn agronomic efficiency with the application of a physical blend with the same Zn rate, which averaged 293 kg ha−1 and 131 kg maize kg Zn−1, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
At equal zinc rate, complex fertilizer gave significantly higher zinc agronomic efficiency than the physical blend.
- Treatment
- complex fertilizer at a rate of 2.24 kg Zn ha−1e0
- Outcome
- Zn agronomic efficiencye0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 448 kg maize kg Zn−1e0
- Qualifier
- 131 kg maize kg Zn−1e0
- Comparator
- physical blend with the same Zn ratee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The yield response and Zn agronomic efficiency of maize with the application of the complex fertilizer at a rate of 2.24 kg Zn ha−1 averaged 1004 kg ha−1 and 448 kg maize kg Zn−1, respectively, significantly higher (P < 0.1) than the yield response and Zn agronomic efficiency with the application of a physical blend with the same Zn rate, which averaged 293 kg ha−1 and 131 kg maize kg Zn−1, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Unfertilized plant tissue zinc concentration varied greatly.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The Zn concentration in plant tissue of unfertilized plots varied greatly”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Unfertilized tissue zinc concentration was unrelated to maize response to zinc fertilizer.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The Zn concentration in plant tissue of unfertilized plots varied greatly and was not related to the maize response to Zn fertilizer (r = 0.01; P = 0.98)”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil-test zinc had a negative nonsignificant relationship with maize zinc response.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“a negative but nonsignificant relationship was found between maize response to Zn fertilizer and soil-test Zn (r = −0.51; P = 0.16)”
The same questions in other papers
zinc atom · yield · Zea mays (maize)Results differ
390 papers in the same direction as this paper · 47 in the opposite direction · 3 reporting no difference from an alternative
- positive
- positive
- positive
437 papers more in this group
See all 441 papers →zinc atom · nutrient: efficiency · Zea mays (maize)Results agree
4 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
1 paper more in this group
See all 5 papers →fertilization · nutrient: efficiency · Zea mays (maize)Results differ
173 papers in the same direction as this paper · 12 in the opposite direction · 3 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
- negative
- negative
185 papers more in this group
See all 189 papers →fertilization · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
3,484 papers in the same direction as this paper · 338 in the opposite direction · 85 reporting no difference from an alternative
- positive
- positive
- positive
3,904 papers more in this group
See all 3,908 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.