EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF HUMIC ACIDS ON NUTRIENT CONTENT AND GROWTH OF CORN (ZEA-MAYS-L)

The effect of humic acids on nutrient uptake and growth of corn plants (Zea mays L.) was investigated by growing corn in plastic growth pouches containing a Hoagland nutrient solution to which were added 0, 320, 640, 1,600 or 3,200 ppm HA, pH 7.0. The experiments were carried out in three replicates for a growing period of 16 days after germination. Humic acid was in general beneficial to shoot and root growth of corn plants. Dry matter yield in corn shoots was stimulated by HA, especially by treatments with 640 ppm HA. Nutrient uptake showed a number of differences as a result of treatments with HA. Moderate applications with HA resulted in a significant increase in N content of corn shoots, while large amounts of HA had a tendency to reduce the N concentration in corn shoots. As a result of the HA treatments, P concentrations in corn shoots were decreased, but differences in K contents were statistically nonsignificant and Mn contents in shoots were also nonsignificantly different among the treatments. However, Zn content showed a tendency to increase with increasing applications of HA. © 1979 Martinus Nijhoff.