planting and establishment
Soil Fertility and Fertiliser
The nutrient uptake process
For nutrient uptake to occur, the individual nutrient ion must be positioned adjacent to the root. There are three ways this positioning occurs – the root can “bump” into the nutrient ion as it grows (interception), nutrients in the soil solution flow to the root as water is taken up (Mass Flow) or by diffusion. Nutrients such as phosphate (P) and potassium (K) are held strongly by soils and as their concentration around a root reduces through absorption, a gradient is created for the nutrient to diffuse from an area of higher concentration to a depleted area.
Mass flow supplies the bulk of the nitrogen (N) requirement, as well as calcium and sulphur as these elements are more soluble and taken in as the plant takes in water. Diffusion is responsible for the majority of the P, K and trace elements moving to the root zone. They are taken into the root by an active process therefore it requires energy to do so. A protein carrier binds with a nutrient ion and carries it across a protective membrane and into the xylem system for delivery to the growth areas.
In normal patterns of uptake, nutrient uptake mirrors plant growth. The plant will take up most of its nutrients during periods of vegetative growth and then move stored nutrients to the developing grain during the reproductive stage. Nutrient uptake increases rapidly after the 4 leaf stage and remains high until after flowering. After pollination, nutrient uptake slows, and nutrient loss from the plant will occur after the dent stage.
fertiliser and the maize crop
Growers have a responsibility to ensure they only supply the nutrients that are essential for crop development – anything above that has the potential to remain in the soil and leach in groundwater (especially nitrogenous fertilisers).
Nitrogenous Fertilisers
The timing of the availability of nitrogen (N) is one of the key building blocks of a successful crop – too little or too late will compromise crop potential. A soil test before cultivation will determine the levels of available N in the soil and provide a baseline for determining the crops needs.
A maize plant will use very little N in the first month. This increases to reach a peak prior to flowering – and with a need for phosphate (P) and potassium (K) as well as water in this key period, any stress or deficiency at this stage has the potential to cause major yield penalties for the crop. With N, split applications present the fertiliser in a more natural way – therefore a drip feed approach (or the use of slow release products) will gain the best response in the majority of situations. With a nitrogen efficiency coefficient of 60% before 4 leaves to 80% thereafter, the plant has a large need for nitrogen from 6 leaves onwards.
N efficiency improves with yield. With a good root system and good soil structure, roots are able to access a greater soil area. This means increased root mass, along with good soil moisture results in decreased stress. Stress inhibits growth and causes a downward spiral to begin.
Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K)
The key to what a maize crop requires is what is available in the soil less what the yield potential is and how much P and K is needed to get there. Both P and K are best added to the seed bed, but when smaller amounts of P are required, placement in the form of starter fertiliser in close proximity to the seed is desirable. P is required particularly by the growing tips of the plant, hence its importance for root growth. Any shortage, especially in the very early stages, reduces root growth and nutrient uptake and this can adversely affect the growth of the crop for the rest of the season.K has a number of diverse roles in plants. It plays an important role in regulating the water content of the plant and with an adequate supply of K plants can survive drought stress more easily. It is essential for the transport of sugar from the leaves to the storage organs where the sugar is converted to starch. It plays a major role in maintaining the turgor (i.e. rigidity) of plant tissue.
Leaves need to be turgid to remain fully extended to maximise the surface exposed to sunlight that provides the energy to convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to sugars in the leaves. Plants well supplied with K also seem to be less susceptible to fungal and pest attacks.
Trace Elements
Magnesium (Mg) is an essential element in chlorophyll and hence for photosynthesis. Crop removal is in the region of 40 kg/ha Mg. The typical magnesium deficiency symptoms are a browning/reddening of the leaf tips and margins and pronounced yellow striping of the leaf veins.Zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) are two trace elements removed by maize crops – typically 500g/ha and 1500g/ ha respectively by a maize grain crop. Unless there is historically a deficit, these two elements are unlikely to be specifically included in a nutrient plan. A soil test will show this, and the best way to overcome a Zn issue is to include this in a base dressing pre-planting; Manganese deficiency is best corrected in the growing crop, with two applications of manganese sulphate – at the 4-5 leaf stage and then again two weeks later.