Mineral fertilizers with iron influence spring rape, maize and soil properties

ABSTRACT

Because of low content of available iron (Fe) in soils and its poor mobility in plants, iron fertilization is necessary. Different forms of iron (mineral salts, chelates, nanomaterials) and fertilization strategies (soil and foliar application of solid or liquid fertilizers) are used. The effect of solid mineral fertilizers (A: a mixture of ammonium nitrate and dolomite; B: a mixture of ammonium nitrate and sulfate) enriched with iron sulfate was assessed during a three-year pot experiment. Iron addition did not change the yield of spring rape (first year) or maize (second and third year) significantly, and the effect on iron content in the plants was ambiguous. Fertilizer B with iron had the greatest yield-forming effect, increasing the yield of aboveground parts by 355–874%, and of roots by 211–692% in particular years. All fertilizers (especially containing sulfur) acidified the soil. After the experiment, pH of the soil fertilized with sulfur was 4.1, and of the unfertilized soil – 5.2. Iron addition increased the content of mobile and exchangeable iron in the soil by 12–110% and 2–58%, respectively, but not the content of the fraction bound to MnO_x. Combination of sulfur and iron fertilization has a potential to improve soil abundance and plant yield.

KEYWORDS:

• Plant yield
• fertilization
• iron sulfate
• available Fe

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland and the Company Grupa Azoty S.A