Additional Potassium Did Not Decrease Aflatoxin or Fumonisin nor Increase Corn Yields
2010
Bruns, H Arnold | Abbas, Hamed K.
Potassium maintains water status in corn (Zea mays L) and resistance to diseases. Two experiments at Stoneville, MS, in 2004, 2006, and 2007 examined if increased K₂O fertility detered grain contamination by aflatoxin and fumonisin, produced by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioide (=F. moniliforme), respectively. Experiment 1 used 27000, 30000, 33000, and 36000 plants/acre. Experiment 2 used four hybrids. Muriate of potash applied at 0, 60 lbs, 120 lbs K₂O/acre, or a split application of 60 lbs K₂O/acre pre-plant followed by 60 lbs K₂O/acre at V6 were used on both experiments. The experiments were planted at two sites. Site 1 was a Beulah fine sandy loam (coarse-loamy, mixed thermic Typic Dystrochrepts) and Site 2 was a Dundee silty clay (fine-silty, mixed, thermic Aeric Ochraqualfs). Soil tests showed Site 1 needed 60 lbs K₂O/acre to yield 200 bu/acre and Site 2 needed 90 lbs/acre. The experiments were furrow irrigated and grown in randomized complete blocks replicated five times. Potassium did not reduce mycotoxins or increase yields. Consistent differences in grain yields or mycotoxins were not found among hybrids or plants/acre. Differences among years in mycotoxins and yield likely resulted from differences in rainfall, regardless of irrigation. Current recommendations for K₂O fertilizer appear adequate for both low mycotoxin levels and high grain yields.
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