Response of corn (Zea mays L.) to a complete NPK fertilizer banded with the seed was compared with response to the same fertilizer coated on the seed before seeding in the greenhouse. Fertilizer was more efficient in its effect on P uptake and growth of seedlings when coated on the seed than when banded with the seed. It was more toxic, however, than banded fertilizer. Thus a greater growth response was obtained with banded fertilizer at rates which did not seriously delay or reduce emergence than could be obtained with the lower rates required for similar emergence when fertilizer was coated. In attempts to reduce the toxicity, a number of compounds were coated on the seed before the fertilizer was added. Sucrose and polyvinyl acetate reduced the toxicity of coated fertilizer appreciably, but probably not enough to make seed coating a practical method of fertilizing corn.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Smid et al. (1971) studied this question.