Effects of Sawdust Application on Soil Chemical and Physical Properties and Corn Yield. (3843)
Authors:
H.M. Tran* - Univ. of Tennessee H.P. Denton - Univ. of Tennessee R. Buggeln - Univ. of Tennessee
Abstract:
Sawdust application (0, 9 and 18 Mg/ha) at varying rates of nitrogen fertilizer (168, 200, and 238 kg/ha) is being studied in soils planted with two years of no-till corn and in soils planted in one year tilled vs. no till corn. Sawdust may be beneficial due to its rich carbonaceous nature, but it may also affect nitrogen availability for the same reason. Crop yield and soil physical and chemical properties such as bulk density, soil aggregates, pH, P, K, NO3-, organic matter, and total soil C and N will be analyzed to study the effect of sawdust on corn yield and soil quality. First year data indicated no effect of sawdust on soil pH or organic matter six months after surface application in no-till corn. No effect of sawdust on soil nitrate was found whereas there was a significant effect of nitrogen rates on soil nitrate. Sawdust significantly reduced corn yield in the first year no-till corn, while yield increased with increased N fertilizer at all sawdust rates. Keyword: nitrogen, carbon, nitrate, organic matter, pH, immobilization, sawdust.
Speaker Information: Huong Tran, Univ. of Tennessee, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-4561; Phone: (865)974-0303; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 9:55 AM-11:15 AM Presentation Start: 10:15 AM
Keywords: Sawdust; Nitrogen fertilizer; soil organic matter; corn yield
