Use of Fresh Sawdust as a Nitrogen Source in Sweet Corn Production

ABSTRACT

Fresh sawdust from particleboard glued with urea formaldehyde was applied as a possible replacement for ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) fertilization in sweet corn (Zea mays L.) production. The treatments consisted of two combinations of sawdust and NH₄NO₃ combinations (25% sawdust:75% NH₄NO₃; 50% sawdust:50% NH₄NO₃); 100% sawdust; a standard NH₄NO₃ application (296 kg·ha⁻¹); and a control treatment that consisted of preplant NH₄NO₃ only. Total N applied for all treatments was 139 kg·ha⁻¹ of N except for the control with 101 kg·ha⁻¹ of N. The elemental composition of the fresh sawdust had a high N composite (32.1 g·kg⁻¹) and alow C: N ratio (15:1), making it favorable for direct use as an organic nitrogen fertilizer. Results indicated that the 25% and 50% sawdust treatments were similar to the standard NH₄NO₃ treatment in chlorophyll content at V6 and R1 stages, R1 plant height, and marketable yield. When the amount of NH₄NO₃ was increased, as is the case of the 25% sawdust, all measured responses were similar. Conversely, the use of 100% sawdust as a replacement for NH₄NO₃ fertilization resulted in decreased growth and yields. It appears that the use of sawdust from particleboard glued with urea formaldehyde has potential as a soil amendment with an aim in reducing the amount of NH₄NO₃ fertilizer needed in sweet corn production.

KEYWORDS:

• Mill residue
• particleboard
• plywood
• sawdust
• sweet corn
• urea formaldehyde
• wood by-products