Effects of new coated release fertilizer on the growth of maize
Slow or controlled release fertilizers have been researched and used more and more widely, developing new slow or controlled release fertilizers is very important. To improve the use efficiency of inorganic fertilizers through the use of coated fertilizer and nitrification inhibitors, 3 newly developed fertilizers (FCRF1:coated fertilizer 1% DCD, FCRF2: coated fertilizer 2% DCD and FCRF3:coated fertilizer 4% DCD) amended with nitrification inhibitors (DCD, C2H4N4) and coated with fly ash were prepared by coating conventional compound fertilizer (N P K: 15 6.55 12.4) Using a coated fertilizer (resin coated compound fertilizer, N P K: 15 6.55 12.4, 90 day, CRF) made in China and a conventional compound fertilizer (CCF) as checks, their effects on physiological characteristics, yield and quality of maize were examined in a field experiment. The results indicated that, compared to CCF, 3 new developed fertilizers kept higher ammonium nitrogen (NH4+ N)and nitrate nitrogen (NO3 N) content at later stages and FCRF3 had the highest content, being similar to CRF treatment. At tasselling stage (TS) and filling stage (FS) the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were significantly increased upon FCRF1, FCRF2 and FCRF3 treatments. In addition, FCRF1, FCRF2 and FCRF3 treatments produced 24.0 35.8% more grain yield, 57.2% 74.4% more total yield, increased 11.20% 49.55% starch, 61.38% 113% protein and 2.67% 9.33% Vitamine C content than CCF,respectively. This product with excellent slow release capacity, being easy to get at a low price and environment friendly, could be especially useful in agricultural application.