Corn is one of the most productive crops in modern agricultural production. The biological features of the crop ensure effective uptake of mineral nutrients from the soil and carbon from the atmosphere, but in the early development stages corn plants are exposed to weather and agronomic factors that can significantly affect growth and development. In terms of forming the main yield components of corn plants, the 4–6 leaf stage, falling in early to mid-May, is one of the most important.
The weather conditions of this spring are quite specific, which affects the growth and development of crops, corn included. In some regions there are still moisture reserves from snow melt, while individual regions already feel acute moisture shortage. Plants that began to emerge stopped growing, which will not help form a high yield.
Unfortunately, forecasters do not predict a drop in temperature or precipitation for the next ten days, so moisture supply to plants will depend on the strength of the root system, which in corn plants forms in this stage. On some fields visual signs of deficiency of mineral nutrients, in particular nitrogen, potassium, zinc and phosphorus, are possible.
To bring plants out of stress and activate growth, we suggest foliar feeding with fertilizers produced by ECOORGANIC in this period. Depending on the situation in each particular field, we recommend using: GROS Rootgrowth, a special fertilizer with phosphorus in the form of phosphite, amino acids and phytohormones, at 1.0–1.5 l/ha, ECOLINE Universal Growth (Amino) at 1.0–2.0 l/ha, a special anti-stress fertilizer with a high content of amino acids and a balanced composition of macro- and microelements to bring plants out of stress and strengthen growth processes. ECOLINE Phosphite (K-Amino) at 1.5–2.0 l/ha, a special composition for overcoming plant stress and strengthening root system growth. ECOLINE Phosphite (K) at 1.5–2.0 l/ha + ECOLINE Zinc (Chelate) at 0.5–1.5 l/ha to eliminate phosphorus, potassium and zinc deficiency and strengthen root system growth.
Foliar feeding of corn in field conditions with different levels of resource supply and moisture recorded better plant development, thanks to which grain yield gains ranging from 4.2 c/ha to 11.7 c/ha and even 16.9 c/ha were obtained, and accordingly a net profit of USD 33.2/ha, USD 133.3/ha and USD 218.5/ha.