Corn Response to Accomplish LM in Northwestern Ohio.

In recent years microbial products have been marketed as fertilizer additives that would make soil nutrients more available and increase growth in corn plants. These products were released to the market prior to evaluations by universities in Ohio. A two year study was completed that evaluated the potential corn grain yield and test weight benefits of Accomplish LM, a microbial nutrient enhancer. Corn was established on the OARDC Northwest Agriculture Research Station near Custar, OH in 2012 and 2013. Plots received 180 lb acre^-1 of N from urea-ammonium nitrate, UAN. Nitrogen was applied as two different timing systems: at planting and a split application, 20 lb acre^-1 starter N applied as 2 x 2 followed by 160 lb acre^-1 at Growth Stage V4.  Treatments consisted of plots that either received only UAN or UAN plus Accomplish LM. Accomplish LM was at the two quart rate and added to UAN at planting. Plots consisted of four rows of corn at 30-inch row spacing. The two center rows were harvested for grain and test weight. Grain yields were similar among the treatments in 2012 but were significantly less for treatments receiving Accomplish LM in 2013. Test weights were similar among treatments for both years. There were no interactions between application timing system and the addition of Accomplish LM. Future research is required to identify beneficial features of microbial products before they should become a part of a standard nutrient program in Ohio corn production.