Effects of N imbalances on shoot and root growth of corn and velvetleaf

Abstract

Effects of Nitrogen imbalances were studied on the shoot and root growth of corn (Zea mays L.) and velvetleaf (Abutilo n theophrasti Medic.) under greenhouse conditions. A pot experiment was carried out using plastic pots with 2.2 kg of a brown forest soil (Eutric cambisol). Soil moisture was kept at 70 percent WHC (water holding capacity) of the soil. Beside the unfertilized control, nutrient treatments in the order of NPK were as follows: 111, 222, 022, 044, 422 and 822, respectively. From the results of our experiment, it was evident that significant differences were obtained for both the weed and the crop species in most treatments and parameters studied. Nitrogen imbalances resulted in considerable changes in the shoot: root ratios of plants showing the plant responses to the stress conditions: e.g . the decrease of shoot: root ratio of plants in N deficiencies. Differences were statistically significant in treatments resulting in strong nutrient imbalances or stress conditions for both plant species.