Characteristics of nutrient absorption and distribution of maize under different soil textures

Soil texture is an important soil physical property influencing nutrient absorption and distribution,and thus maize growth.A pool-culture experiment with four soil textures(sandy loam,loam,loamy clay and clay loam) and two levels of fertilizations(with and without fertilizer) were conducted for two years to study the characteristics of nutrient absorption and distribution in maize plant.The area of each pool was one square meter with six plants inside.Corn(Yedan22) was planted on June 7 and harvested on September 17 in both years.N was applied at 75kg/ha and 150 kg/ha at jointing stage and male tetrad stage,respectively.At the beginning of maize growth,P was applied at 50kg/ha.The results showed the order of nutrient accumulation was NKP.The absorption and distribution of N,P and K differed with soil textures,and the order of total absorption of N,P and K per corn was loamy clay loam clay loam sandy loam.Statistical analysis indicated that there was significant difference among these soil textures.The order of N,P and K consumption in leaves and culm-sheath agreed with that in plant,and the proportion of distribution in leaves was a little higher than that in the culm-sheath.In the late growing stage,the transferring rate of N,P and K followed the order of sandy loamloam loamy clay clay loam.Yield and nutrient accumulation in grain were highest in loamy clay and lowest in sandy loam.Yield and accumulation of N,P and K were increased the most by fertilization in sandy loam,followed by loam,loamy clay and clay loam.