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Abstract
Rising fertilizer costs and the need for more efficient fertilizer applications have motivated exploration into alternative pre-plant fertilizer application methods. Two different studies were conducted in Tifton and Midville in 2021 and 2022: (1) to assess the influence of non-uniform fertilizer distribution during broadcast application on corn growth and yield, and (2) to compare and evaluate the effect of different pre-plant dry fertilizer application methods (broadcast versus banding) on corn growth and yield. Results from the first study indicated that while uneven fertilizer distribution within the fields occurred, corn growth and yield was not significantly affected. Results varied among locations and years for the second study where plant growth differed between the application methods or rates in some cases. Corn yield differed between the applications methods - broadcast and banding – during both years in Midville while yield was comparable for both applications methods for the same application rate in Tifton