Volume: 3, 2024
3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: P019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.P019
Published online: 24 April 2024
ICDSUPL, 3, P019 (2024)
Corn yielding after application of fertilizers based on ash from biomass combustion
Urszula Zimnoch1, 2*, Marzena S. Brodowska1, Jacek Michalak3
1 Department of Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agrobioengineering, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
2 Regional Chemical and Agricultural Station in Bialystok, Poland
3 Regional Chemical and Agricultural Station in Lodz, Poland
* Corresponding author: urszula.zimnoch@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Corn is one of the species whose economic importance has increased significantly in recent years. It is used for food, feed, and as an energy and industrial raw material. Grain, silage from whole plants and cobs, a green fodder is also an energy feed for all animal species, mainly cattle and pigs. In Poland, a dynamic increase in the area of corn cultivation is currently observed. In 2022, the area under cultivation of this species in Poland amounted to over 1.8 million ha. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of fertilization with fertilizer mixtures containing biomass ashes on the yield of maize intended for fodder (FAO 240). The tests were carried out in two towns: Czesławice near Lublin and Krynice near Białystok. Three-year field experiments were conducted according to random block scheme. Each fertilizer combination was tested in three repetitions on plots of 25 m2 each. Basic fertilization was applied before sowing in two doses – fully covering the needs for NPK and fertilization reduced by 25%. The experiments established in two locations differed significantly in soil quality and abundance at the beginning of the research. The experiment included, among others: fresh matter yields, plant height, number of cobs per plant, cob weight, number of grain rows per cob. Measurements were taken when the milk line in the corn kernel was 1/3 of the kernel’s height (the kernel has three types of starch visible in equal proportion). Potentially, this is the most optimal date for harvesting corn for silage – it is assumed that the dry matter content in the green fodder is 32–33%. The analysis of the results after the third year of field experiments confirms the research hypothesis that ash from biomass combustion is a valuable raw material for the production of multi-component fertilizers. The assessment of yield and other parameters was favorable in both locations (Czesławice and Krynice). From the plots of tested fertilizer mixtures with different ash contents from biomass combustion, equal and higher corn yields were obtained in all cases compared to control plots. The use of fertilizers with ash from biomass combustion allows to reduce the amount of standard fertilizers while maintaining satisfactory yields.
Keywords: fertilizers, corn, phyto ashes, cultivation
How to cite
U. Zimnoch, M.S. Brodowska, J. Michalak, 2024. Corn yielding after application of fertilizers based on ash from biomass combustion. In: 3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.P019