Farming is a way of life and is anything but predictable. That's why your farm must be efficient and resilient enough to grow crops both sustainably and profitably now and in the future.
Incorporating foliar nutrition into your maize programme doesn’t need to be complicated and can deliver impressive results.
If you are growing maize for anaerobic digestion or livestock forage, paying more attention to foliar nutrition, particularly phosphate and zinc, will improve establishment and early growth resulting in a higher yield and a better quality crop.
All nutrients have crucial roles in plants. Some species have a higher requirement for certain micronutrients and so deficiencies of these are more likely, however a deficiency of any macro or micronutrient will result in loss of yield and quality.
Early growth is predominantly root development which may be restricted in dry, cold soils if moisture is limited or conversely in poorly aerated cold waterlogged soils. Nutrient availability will be also be restricted in dry soils which will further restrict root growth and the ability to support the crop later in the season.
Foliar application of phosphate is the best way to overcome these early deficiencies and will help the crop develop a better root system to support later growth.
Research has shown that phosphate deficient maize plants growing in cold and/or acid soils utilise phosphate applied to the leaf at twice the rate of control plants without any deficiency; much more phosphate was translocated from the leaf, particularly to the roots, which maximises early root development.
Data from samples analysed by Yara Analytical Services in 2018-2021 show that 63% of maize leaf samples were deficient in P and 45% of maize soil samples were P index 2 or lower.
Maize soil samples P index 2 or lower
Maize leaf samples deficient in P
These maize plants were grown in sand and watered daily with a nutrient solution with optimum amounts of all nutrients, but omitting zinc.
25 days after sowing the pot on the right side was treated with 1l/ha YaraVita Zintrac as a foliar spray just before filming started.
5 weeks after application the plants were harvested and there was a three-fold increase in both shoot and root weight in the treated plants.
Zinc plays a vital role in many functions within the plant. One of the well-documented functions of Zn is its role in protein synthesis and its contribution to the structural integrity of a number of proteins. Zn deficiency results in a severe decline in protein biosynthesis. Up to 10% of the proteins in biological systems need Zn for their proper functioning and for the maintenance of their structural integrity. It is therefore not surprising that plants show a high susceptibility to low concentrations of Zn in tissues.
Other important functions of Zn in plant cells are: Structural and functional integrity of cell membranes, Detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Photo-oxidation and light damage (destruction of chlorophyll), Synthesis and protection of IAA (a hormone that controls plant growth and development), Reducing cadmium accumulation in plants.
The structural integrity of cell membranes is important also for protecting plants against pathogenic infections. Exudates from ‘leaky’ cells create an environment ideal for the growth and invasion of root cells by fungi and bacteria.
The most common symptoms of zinc deficiency in maize include the development of whitish or yellowish stripes parallel to the midrib on the young leaves and stunting appearances with shortened internodes. Necrotic spots and reddish colour may develop on leaves as the deficiency develops.
Data from samples analysed by Yara Analytical Services in 2018-2021 show that 48% of maize leaf samples were deficient in zinc so around half of all maize crops might not reach their potential.
48% of maize tissue samples were below the zinc guideline level
40% of maize tissue samples were below the nitrogen guideline level
Biostimulants can also help maize during periods of abiotic stress, such as dry conditions. Trial work carried out in 2022 showed that YaraVita Biotrac, a biostimulant product, increased the yield in maize when applied in combination with YaraVita Crop Boost, by as much as 16% which equates to 2.5 tonnes of dry matter per hectare.
Potential yield losses caused by the delayed establishment of maize or by micronutrient deficiencies can be significant and the effects are generally not visible in the field until after the damage has been done.
Foliar treatments need to be applied early in the season to prevent deficiencies, even if the deficiencies are transient, for peace of mind and to reduce the risk of yield losses or reduced crop quality.
YaraVita Crop Boost is designed for use on maize crops and contains key micronutrients magnesium and zinc together with key macronutrients potassium and phosphate. YaraVita Zintrac 700 can also be used on maize where higher levels of zinc are required. YaraVita Safe-N 300 can be applied at the 4-6 leaf stage to help crops through transient N deficiency to aid crop establishment.
A Yara trial in 2014 was conducted on Maize destined for an AD plant. YaraVita Zintrac was applied at 1 l/ha at the three-leaf stage. The control plots were at 32 ppm Zinc, so just above the guideline level of 30 ppm. At harvest, the YaraVita Zintrac gave an 8% yield increase, which was equivalent to a 3.92 t/ha yield increase.
In a recent poor year for growing maize, farmers estimated that YaraVita Crop Boost used proactively at the correct timing improved crop yield by over 20%. In 2010 two farm trials conducted in a good maize growing year raised starch analysis by an average of 20.1% following one spray at the 4 to 6 leaf stage.
If you choose to ignore maize foliar nutrition your maize crops might not be reaching their potential and you could be losing up to 20% of the potential yield.
The following foliar fertilisers and biostimulants are recommended for forage maize
Yara supply our solid and liquid fertilisers and micronutrients through a network of local suppliers Use our interactive map to locate your nearest suppliers.
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