Application of fertilizer containing nitrification inhibitor and micronutrients in maize.

The use of nitrogen (N) as fertilizer is important in order to obtain high yields of maize. The management of nitrogen application, as well as the fertilizer manufacturing technology takes part in the efficiency of the nitrogen fertilizing. The objective of this experiment was to compare the effect of fertilizer containing nitrification inhibitor (sulfonitrate ammonium + DMPP) and urea (conventional fertilization); and, also to evaluate the effect of application of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) in foliar and/or seed treatment. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of the Capim Branco´s farm, located in Uberlândia, MG. The experimental layout was randomized blocks design, with six treatments and four replications. Pioneer 30F53 hybrid was sowed with 500 kg ha-1 NPK (08-28-16) as sowing fertilization. The urea was applied at sowing in a dose of 40 kg ha-1 and two topdressings of 60 kg ha-1, at 25 and 35 days after emergency, totaling 160 Kg N ha-1. Treatments involving fertilizer containing nitrification inhibitor (sulfonitrate ammonium + DMPP) received 160 Kg N ha-1, in a single application at sowing, mixed to 80 kg K2O ha-1 and 140 kg P2O5 ha-1, using chloride potassium and super phosphate triple fertilizers, respectively. The fertilizer with nitrification inhibitor (sulfonitrate ammonium + DMPP) significantly increased maize yields comparing to conventional fertilization with urea, in the absence of the micronutrients Zn and Mn. The use of Zn and Mn contributed to increase yields when applied via seeds, compared to conventional fertilization with urea in the lack of micronutrients.