Yield, Quality Components, and Nitrogen Levels of Silage Corn Fertilized with Urea and Zeolite

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 2011-06, Vol.42 (11), p.1266-1275
• Main Authors: Bernardi, Alberto C. de Campos, de Souza, Gilberto Batista, Polidoro, José Carlos, Paiva, Paulo Renato Perdigão, Monte, Marisa Bezerra de Mello
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; corn silage; experimental design; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; leaves; Nitrogen; nitrogen content; stilbite; urea; Zea mays L; zeolites
• ISSN: 1532-2416; 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2011.571980

The zeolite and urea mixture may be use to improve nitrogen (N)–use efficiency of silage corn. The objective of this study was to evaluate dry-matter yield and nutritional levels of N of silage corn fertilized with urea and zeolite mixture. The experimental design was a 2 × 4 × 4 factorial randomized block design with three replications. Treatments included two types of stilbite zeolite (natural and concentrated), four levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100, and 200 kg ha⁻¹), and four ratios of zeolite (25%, 50%, and 100% of N level). Treatments were applied 60 days after planting with the topdressing fertilization. The use of concentrated (650 g kg⁻¹ of stilbite) or natural (470 g kg⁻¹ of stilbite) zeolite with urea increased silage corn dry-matter production and leaf N concentrations.