Nutrient Uptake by Corn and Grain Sorghum Silage as Affected by Soil Type, Planting Date, and Moisture Regime
1976
Fribourg, H. A. | Bryan, W. E. | Lessman, G. M. | Manning, D. M.
Few data have been published on whole-plant nutrient removal by silage crops as influenced by soil types and species. In order to quantify nutrient removals by corn (Zea mays L.) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) silage crops, early (30 April-15 May) and late (2-12 June) plantings of ‘Funk G-4831’ corn and ‘AKS 614’ sorghum were grown in 1969 in 34 environments on 12 soil types, two soils at each of six locations in Tennessee. Nonirrigated plots of the two plantings were grown on all soils, and irrigated plots were added to five of the soils. The corn was harvested for silage when 80 to 90% of the kernels were dented, and grain sorghum when the oldest seeds were in the soft dough stage. Tissue samples were collected and analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, and Mg. Total seasonal uptake was calculated by multiplying percent composition of each element by dry matter yield/ha. Corn silage yields ranged from about 6 to 28 metric tons/ha, and sorghum silage yields ranged from about 7 to 18 metric tons/ha. Nutrient uptake generally increased linearly with yield. Mean total uptake of N, P, K, Ca. and Mg were, for corn silage, 192, 28, 144, 39, and 37 kg/ha; and, for grain sorghum silage, 169, 26, 143, 40, and 35 kg/ha, respectively.
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