Highlights The savings of 16% of LSF used in the intermediate rate did not negatively affect the achieved grain yield. The use of 32% more LSF applied in continuous flow meant an increase in grain yield of 8% to the strips fertilized with OPS. The comparative advantages of using a precise application system are highlighted when working with higher target rates of liquid starter fertilizer. Abstract. Numerous studies have examined the effects of liquid starter fertilizer (LSF) on corn (Zea mays L.) and have emphasized the importance of economic viability, given the potential soil-related problems associated with excessive fertilizer use. This research aimed to compare two LSF application techniques: traditional continuous-flow application (OEM) and an on-point application system (OPS), which delivers a precise amount of LSF synchronized with the delivery of each seed by the seed meter, for corn No-till planting in the north-central region of Kansas. The experiment consisted of a static phase (no horizontal movement of the planter) and a dynamic phase (seeding in the field). The actual amounts of LSF distributed by each half of the planter for each target rate (19, 37, and 56 L/ha 2, 4, and 6 gal/acre) were compared. The second phase of the experiment used a randomized complete block design with three blocks. Seven treatments were evaluated: an unfertilized control and six combinations resulting from two fertilization systems (OEM and OPS) and three LSF rates (19, 37, and 56 L/ha 2, 4, and 6 gal/acre). Each treatment was replicated three times across the field. The ears of all corn plants within each experimental strip were collected, threshed, and weighed in the laboratory. The data were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA to assess the impact of LSF rate and application system treatments, and their interaction, on grain yield. The findings revealed that implementing OPS led to an average LSF saving of 16% at 37 L/ha (4 gal/acre) and 32% at 56 L/ha (6 gal/acre). Upon analyzing the ears and grain yield, it was evident that OPS did not affect yield at the two lower application rates. However, at the highest rate of 56 L/ha (6 gal/acre), the yield was just 0.52 tn/ha (8.3 bu/acre), lower. Keywords: Application technique, Corn, Liquid starter fertilizer, Planter, Yield.
Peiretti et al. (Thu,) studied this question.