Field Study

Vitazyme on Corn – 2005-Hertford, North Carolina

Significant treatment effects or interactions involving Vitazyme were found for the diameter of the root ball, root mass, stalk diameter and grain yield. In the case of the diameter of the root ball there was a significant plant population by treatment interaction. At the lower plant population of 28 000 plants/acre the combination of 19-19-0 and Vitazyme significantly increased the diameter of the root ball compared to either product used alone or when compared to the untreated check. Neither the 19-19-0 nor Vitazyme when used alone increased the diameter of the root ball compared to the untreated check. In contrast, at the higher plant population, Vitazyme, 19-19-0, or the combination of the two significantly increased the diameter of the root ball compared to the untreated check. Although none of these three treatments were significantly different from each other the combination of Vitazyme and 19-19-0 again tend- ed to have the higher yield. There were no significant interactions for root mass. However, there was a significant treatment effect. Vitazyme when used alone or in combination with 19-19-0 resulted in greater root mass compared to the untreated check. Again, the combination of Vitazyme and 19-19-0 produced the great- est root mass when compared with either treatment used alone. There was also a treatment effect on stalk diameter. The combination of Vitazyme and 19-19-0 increased stalk diameter at the first internode below the ear when compared with the untreated check or with a treatment of only 19-19-0. There was not a significant difference in stalk diameter between a treatment with only Vitazyme and the combination of Vitazyme and 19-19-0. However, the combination did have the largest stalk diameter.
For grain yield there was a significant plant population and treatment interaction. At the lower plant pop- ulation, Vitazyme alone significantly increased yield compared to either the starter fertilizer or the untreated check; while the combination of starter and Vitazyme resulted in a yield similar to that obtained by Vitazyme alone. In comparison, at the higher plant population, the starter treatment, Vitazyme, or the combination of the two resulted in statistically similar yields but only the Vitazyme or Vitazyme-starter combination had significantly higher yields than the untreated check.
In summary, Vitazyme or Vitazyme in combination with 19-19-0 increased root ball diameter, root mass, stalk diameter, and grain yield compared to an untreated check. While plant disease ratings were not taken in this study, it is unlikely that the Vitazyme effect was related to better disease resistance. It appears that Vitazyme applied to the seeds at planting improves early root development resulting in a larger root mass, greater stalk diameter, and increased yield.