Levels of zinc and phosphorus in limed soil samples in the production of sweet corn dry matter (<em>Zea mays</em> var. <em>Saccharata</em>)

Abstract

Due to the short period of nutrient assimilation and to the intense metabolism, the sweet corn presents higher nutritional requirements than the common green corn. Sweet corn cultivation is not compatible with acid soils and shows an increasing yield response to phosphorus, nitrogen and zinc applications. With the purpose of verifying sweet corn nutritional requirements, this investigation was carried out in a greenhouse limed and up to 70% base-contented soil using the following varied levels of Zn (Zinc sulphate) 0.0; 0.8; 1.6 and 3.2ppm and P (bicalcic phosphate) 0.75 and 150ppm. Thirty-three days after seeding, the sweet corn aerial part was evaluated in terms of dry matter yield. The 3.2ppm Zn level presented the highest dry matter yield. Dry matter yield increased with the progressive P concentration in the soil. No significant interaction between Zn and P and sweet corn dry matter accumulation was detected.