Minerals for Increasing Your Maize Yield

By Yara

THE aim of every maize grower is achieving a high maize yield.

There are a large number of agronomic factors that can influence this, many of which fortunately, are within the grower’s control, given the prevailing climatic and soil conditions.

Once a variety has been selected matching the local growing conditions, maize is planted at a density allowing for the development of one maize cob per plant.

 

To achieve high maize yields, it is important to maximize the number of grains per cob and to increase the grain weight. Through a balanced crop nutrition program, growers would be able to accomplish this.

Crop nutrition and maize yield.

To achieve high maize yields, the following chemicals need to be provided;

Nitrogen.

Nitrogen is important to securing high maize yields. It fuels crop growth and development and needs to be readily available.

Phosphorus.

Phosphorus is particularly important for root development and good crop establishment.

Potassium, like nitrogen, also boosts crop development, and large amounts are taken up by the growing plant. Supplies need to be balanced alongside those of nitrogen. Good potassium nutrition can also help minimize the effects of frost damage and reduces lodging.

 

Potassium is most important for stomatal closure and low supplies result in loss of water from the plant.

Magnesium, sulphur and iron increase photosynthetic activity and maintain good growth for high yields.

Calcium ensures good plant strength, protecting root, leaf and stalk production.

Boron is required for pollen tube growth and good grain set.

Zinc is important for photosynthetic activity.

Unavailability of any other micronutrient can also restrict growth processes and subsequent maize yield.

Other crop management practices to increase maize yield

• Maintenance of an optimum soil pH ensures nutrients are readily available and maximizes growth. The preferred pH is in the range of 6 – 7.2 (Measured in water). maize has poor tolerance of low (<5.0) pH soils when aluminum toxicity reduces root development and manganese toxicity reduces plant development.
• Use of lime to increase soil pH, and gypsum to improve soil structure and calcium saturation, will help to increase maize yield. The sulphur from gypsum complexes with free aluminum, reducing the toxicity to the plants.
• Good soil structure is essential for strong root development and good growth – maize is particularly sensitive to soil compaction.
• Spacing, planting density and rotation with other crops help increase maize yield by minimizing disease, pest and weed incidence.
• Weed control is essential to ensure a good, competitive start and pest and disease control will minimize damage to root and productive leaf area. Water supply particularly around silking is important for grain set.

Improving grain maize protein and amino acids content.

Good crop nutrition will ensure high protein and energy levels of grain in the maize cob.

 

A correct balance of nitrogen, potassium, sulphur and zinc is particularly important in improving grain maize protein and amino acids content.

Crop Nutrition and Grain Maize Protein and Amino Acids Content

Nitrogen

Poor nitrogen supply during grain fill leads to lower grain proteins. A balanced nitrogen topdressing during stem elongation can improve grain protein content and provide the right amount of nitrogen to sustain the grain maize filling.

Potassium

Good potassium nutrition can increase protein content of the grain and the levels of proteinogenic amino acids, cystine and methionine.

Sulphur

Sulphur supply is particularly important in the conversion of nitrogen to protein and in improving grain maize quality. S also helps in the process of amino acid production, ensuring high nitrogen use efficiency.

Iron

Iron is important to plant metabolism as a component of enzymes and proteins, and in nitrate reductase for reduction of nitrate to ammonium and then amino acids.