Effect of fertilizer application on the yield and quality of sweet corn using white clover living mulch
2007
Fujino, T.(Tokyo Univ. of Agriculture (Japan)) | Tamai, F. | Fukuyama, M.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of initiating a white-clover (Trifolium rapens) living mulch crop-farming system. This experiment was carried out to determine an appropriate fertilizer application rate on a sweet corn crop (Zea mays), using white clover (Wc) living mulch. The sweet corn (Sc) was sown and grown in a field of newly cut Wc, applying four application levels of compound fertilizer, namely: 'very light' (11 kg of N, P. K per 10a, respectively), '1ight' (14 kg), 'standard' (17 kg), and 'heavy' (20 kg), with two replications for each treatment. Two application levels of the fertilizer, light(14 kg) and standard(17 kg), were added to the experiment as controls in an adjacent plowed field (normal cultivation method) which contained no Wc. The size of each experimental plot was 12 square m (3 m x 4 m). It was found that height and leaf color values of the Sc using Wc living mulch were greater than those under the normal cultivation method. Using Wc living mulch, the dry weight production of Sc under the light fertilizer treatment was superior to that under the heavy fertilizer. In particular, ear length and weight of Sc using Wc living mulch under the light fertilizer were greater than under normal cultivation. These results indicated that high quality and quantity for sweet corn crops were attainable with a combination of the light fertilizer application and Wc living mulch. The results indicate that this is a suitable method of cultivation, which reduces reliance on inorganic fertilizers.
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