The effect of different sources of N combined with marine algae on corn plant development

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different sources and doses of N combined with marine algae on the development of corn plants. Field experiments were conducted from December 2010 to February 2012 in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. The experimental plots were laid out in a randomized block design with sub-subdivided plots. Different nitrogen sources in the form of immediate-release and controlled-release urea were evaluated on plots; rates of 0 (control), 60, 100 and 120 kg of N ha-1 were evaluated on subplots; and applications with or without marine algae were evaluated on sub-subplots. The dose of marine algae corresponded to 20% of the dose of urea. The study concluded that the application of marine algae in corn did not influence the efficiency of the different nitrogen sources. However, increasing nitrogen doses resulted in higher content of foliar N, thousand-grain weight and crop yield.