Application of Zn-containing foliar fertilisers for recovery of the grain productivity potential of Zn-deficient maize plants

• Published in: Italian Journal of Agronomy Vol. 16; no. 2; p. 1759
• Main Authors: Ivanov, Krasimir, Vassilev, Andon, Mitkov, Anyo, Nguyen, Nguyen, Tonev, Tonyo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 2021; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier
• Subjects: agronomy; Controlled conditions; Corn; Fertilization; Fertilizers; foliar fertiliser; Grain; grain productivity; Industrial crops; Maize; mineral content; Nutrient deficiency; Organs; photosynthesis; physiological state; Physiology; Reproductive organs; Zinc; zinc hydroxy nitrate; zinc hydroxy nitrate; grain productivity; Maize; photosynthesis; foliar fertiliser; mineral content
• ISSN: 1125-4718; 2039-6805
• DOI: 10.4081/ija.2021.1759

Maize is one of the most sensitive industrial crops of zinc supply. Questions about fertilisation methods and the type of fertilisers used are the subject of serious scientific discussion. The key objective of this paper was to evaluate the possibilities to recover the yielding potential of Zn-deficient young maize plants by application of nanosized Zn-containing foliar fertilisers. The agronomic response of Zn-deficient maize plants to foliar fertilisation with nanoscale zinc-containing foliar fertilisers was investigated. The study was conducted in two stages: i) planting and growing the plants under controlled conditions in a zinc-deficient environment for three months; and ii) moving the plants and continuing the experiment in field conditions. A single spray with two nanosized zinc-containing foliar fertilisers was carried out. The physiological status of the plants and the dynamic of zinc and micro- and macroelements concentration in plant organs were monitored. The influence of foliar zinc fertilisation on yield and grain structural components has been determined. Our results indicated that zinc fertilisation throughout the initial growth stages plays a decisive role in the formation of the reproductive organs of maize plants. Foliar zinc fertilisers can entirely recover the physiological performance of plants grown under conditions of zinc deficiency.