Abstract Below‐optimum soil phosphorus (P) levels limit crop production, while excess P transported from agricultural landscapes to surface water contributes to eutrophication. Improvements in P‐utilization efficiency (PUE) would benefit agro‐economic efficiency and water quality. This paper examines the potential for increasing PUE in corn ( Zea mays ) by altering application timing. The data were utilized from a previous study on P application timing in soil‐less media for precise control. Minimum P uptake with no loss in grain yield occurred when sufficient P was exclusively applied between V6 and R1. This resulted in 15% less P uptake compared to receiving sufficient P throughout all growth stages. In contrast, sufficient P application exclusively from R1 to R6 produced nearly half the grain yield and PUE compared to V6 to R1 application. The results suggest that P application at around V6 could allow for reduced P application rates by “feeding the plant” rather than “feeding the soil.”
Penn et al. (Mon,) studied this question.