Influences of Soil Bulk Density in Deep Soil Layers on Absorption and Distribution of Nitrogen,Phosophrous and Potassium in Maize (Zea mays L.)

ObjectiveThe study was carried out to investigate the influences of soil bulk density in deep soil layers for absorption and distribution of nitrogen,phosophrous and potassium in maize.MethodThe pool cultivation were employed under field exposure. The pool soil was divided into three different soil layers: 0-20 cm (without any change in each treatment),20-40 cm and 40-60 cm with different soil bulk density (BD),which were adjusted before seeding. ResultThe main results showed that soil BD in deep soil layers had significant effects on absorption of N,P,K in maize,especially at the silking stage. Among nutrients,the order of the effects was KPN. Accumulation of N,P,K significantly differed among the five treatments with the order T224 T244T226T246T266. Soil BD in deep soil layers also affected distributive proportion and transferring rate of N,P,K in the different organs,especially around the growth centre,of maize plant at different stages. The distributive proportion of N,P,K decreased with the increase of soil BD in deep soil layers. It showed the highest proportion in T224 and the lowest proportion in T266. Absorption and distribution of N,P,K in maize were interactively affected by soil BD of the two different deep soil layers.The effect of soil BD in 20-40 cm was more significant than that in 40-60 cm. Conclusion Adjustment of soil BD in the deep soil layers,especially the 20-40 cm layer,could enable maize plants to absorb more nutrients,to distribute more nutrients in organs around the growth center,and to improve accumulation of dry matter at the later growth stages.