Maize grain composition with additions of NPK briquette and organically enhanced N fertilizer

Authors: WANG, XIAHUI - Jilin Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; LIU, SHUANGLI - University Of Tennessee; YIN, XINHUA - University Of Tennessee; Bellaloui, Nacer; WININGS, JOHN - University Of Tennessee; AGYIN-BIRIKORANG, SAMPSON - International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC); SINGH, UPENDRA - International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC); SANABRIA, JOAQUIN - International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC); Mengistu, Alemu

Submitted to: Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2020
Publication Date: 6/15/2020
Citation: Wang, X., Liu, S., Yin, X., Bellaloui, N., Winings, J.H., Agyin-Birikorang, S., Singh, U., Sanabria, J., Mengistu, A. 2020. Maize grain composition with additions of NPK briquette and organically enhanced N fertilizer. Agronomy. 10(6):1-10. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060852.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060852

Interpretive Summary: Fertilizers nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are used extensively for crop production and grain quality. Therefore, identifying new sources of these fertilizers that are more efficiently used than conventional fertilizers and defining their effects on grain quality are important. In this experiment we used briquettes (NPKBriq) and organically enhanced N fertilizer (OENF) as newly developed fertilizer products for N, P, and K that were reported to increase corn yield. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of NPKBriq, OENF, urea, and ammonium sulfate fertilizers on corn grain composition including protein, oil, and starch. A field study was conducted in 2012 and 2013 at Jackson and Grand Junction, TN. The results showed that OENF fertilizer resulted in a higher fiber content than NPKBriq in 2013. Both NPKBriq and OENF didn’t change grain quality compared with the commonly-used fertilizers ammonium sulfate and urea. In conclusion, the NPKBriq and OENF fertilizers were similar to the urea and ammonium sulfate fertilizers with respect to grain quality. The information obtained from this research benefits corn growers and fertilizer industry for corn fertilizer management.

Technical Abstract: NPK fertilizer briquettes (NPKBriq) and organically enhanced N fertilizer (OENF), as newly developed fertilizer products, are reported to increase maize (Zea mays L.) yield and N use efficiency, but their effects on maize grain composition are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of NPKBriq and OENF on the protein, oil, fiber, ash, and starch of maize grain. A field study was conducted at Jackson and Grand Junction, TN, during 2012 and 2013, with NPKBriq, OENF, ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) (+P and K), and urea (+P and K) as the main treatments and 0, 85, 128, and 170 kg N ha-1 as the sub treatments under a randomized complete block split plot design with four replicates. The fiber concentration was more responsive to the fertilizer source than the protein, oil, ash, and starch concentrations. OENF resulted in a higher fiber concentration than NPKBriq at 85 kg N ha-1 in 2013, averaged over the two sites. Both OENF and NPKBriq had nearly no significant effects on the concentrations of the quality attributes compared with ammonium sulfate and urea. In conclusion, the nutrient-balanced NPKBriq exerts the same or greater effects on maize grain quality relative to the commonly used nutrient management practices of urea (+P and K) and ammonium sulfate (+P and K) under normal weather conditions. OENF is an alternate N source to urea and ammonium sulfate for similar to higher maize grain quality.