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2025 Vol.58, Issue 4 Preview Page

Original research article

Effects of fertilizer deep placement on weed suppression and maize growth in different soil textures
Jong-Mun Lee1†
,
Wook-Jae Lee23†
,
So-Jin Yeob4
,
Soon-Kun Choi4
,
Sang-Min Jun4
,
Jinu Eo4
,
Byungmo Lee6
,
Young-Jae Jeong4
,
Yerin Yang5
,
Young-Eun Na6*
1Postdoctoral Researcher, Climate Change Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Korea
2Graduate Student, Department of Crop Science & Biotechnology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
3Graduate Student, Climate Change Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Korea
4Researcher, Climate Change Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Korea
5Research Associate (M.S.), Climate Change Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Korea
6Senior Researcher, Climate Change Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
30 November 2025. pp. 536-548
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Abstract

Surface broadcasting of fertilizer in upland maize often causes a temporary accumulation of plant-available nitrogen (N) near the soil surface, leading to weed emergence and potential N losses. This study evaluated the effects of fertilizer deep placement (FDP) on weed growth, soil inorganic N dynamics, and maize yield across soil textures under field conditions. The experiment was arranged in a factorial combination of soil texture (sandy loam and loam) and fertilizer placement (no fertilizer, surface application, and FDP). Surface application increased inorganic N concentration in the upper soil layers and stimulated weed growth, whereas FDP reduced weed density and biomass while maintaining grain yield comparable to surface fertilization. Weed community diversity decreased under FDP, particularly in loam, indicating a shift toward dominance by a few species. These results suggest that FDP simultaneously suppresses weeds and stabilizes maize yield, providing a practical nutrient management strategy to reduce N loss and improve resource use efficiency in upland maize systems.

Effects of soil texture and fertilizer treatment on weed growth characteristics.
Keywords
Ammonium-nitrate dynamics
Fertilizer deep placement
Maize
Soil inorganic nitrogen
Weed suppression
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국토양비료학회
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국토양비료학회 학회지
  • Volume : 58
  • No :4
  • Pages :536-548
  • Received Date : 2025-09-26
  • Revised Date : 2025-11-06
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-10
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.4.536
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