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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #426227
Research Project: Improving Understanding of Soil Processes for Making More Informed Agricultural Management Decisions that Increase Agricultural Sustainability in the Central U.S.

Location: National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory

Title: Phosphorus utilizaton efficiency among corn era-hybrids released over seventy-five years

Author
item AMPONG, KWAME - Purdue University
item Penn, Chad
item CAMERATO, J - Purdue University
item QUINN, D - Purdue University
item Williams, Mark

Submitted to: Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2025
Publication Date: 6/7/2025
Citation: Ampong, K., Penn, C.J., Camerato, J., Quinn, D., Williams, M.R. 2025. Phosphorus utilizaton efficiency among corn era-hybrids released over seventy-five years. Agronomy. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061407.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061407

Interpretive Summary: Phosphorus (P) is necessary for growing field crops. P fertilizers are costly to farmers. Any practices or genetics that increase P plant uptake efficiency will improve the economics of production.  This study aimed to evaluate the P utilization efficiency of corn era hybrids going back 75 years.  P utilization efficiency is the ability of plants to make more grain with less fertilizer P. This experiment used a sand-hydroponics system to purposely exclude the confounding factor of root architecture and root exudates (chemicals excreted by roots). This set up allowed for direct measurement of P utilization efficiency. Results showed that corn grain yield was not different between most hybrids. There were, however, differences in P utilization efficiency.  Such differences occurred due to the ways in which different hybrids moved P and biomass into different plant parts. These results can be directly used by corn breeders. They help the breeders and farmers to produce corn that maximizes P utilization efficiency. The results directly translate into producing more grain with less P fertilizer inputs.

Technical Abstract: The high demands of corn (Zea mays L.) grain production coupled with water quality goals and phosphorus (P) conservation pose a grand challenge to farmers and society, and necessitate improved P utilization efficiency (PUtE: grain yield per mass total P (TP) content). The objective of this study was to evaluate PUtE among six Pioneer corn hybrids released over a span of 75 years. Corn was grown in a sand-culture hydroponics system that eliminated confounding plant–soil interactions, root architecture, and allowed for precise control of nutrient availability. Four P concentration levels (4, 7, 10, and 12 mg P L-1) were applied to hybrids released in 1936, 1942, 1946, 1952, 2008, and 2011. Nutrients other than P were applied at sufficient levels. Shoots and roots were harvested at maturity (R6) and biomass and P concentration determined. Results showed that total biomass did not differ among hybrids, but partitioning of biomass varied with hybrid. Grain yield varied between hybrids, but there was no trend with year of release. Grain P content was negatively correlated with stem P content (R2=0.91). PUtE differed between the most recently released hybrids (2008 and 2011) whereas older hybrids had intermediate and similar PUtE. Grain yield was not solely determined by TP in the plant, but was strongly influenced by biomass and P partitioning, which was manifested as relative differences in PUtE between hybrids. Findings highlight the critical role of the source-sink relationship in determining PUtE and grain yield.