Corn in the early growth stage

Corn on the way: a good setup is half the battle

We are currently in the final phase of installing the corn crop, the most important arable crop in Portugal, with an approximate area of 150,000 hectares between the mainland and the islands. Whether the production goal is grain corn or silage corn, the guidelines are the same. As Duarte highlights:

“It is very important to control weeds right from the start, particularly the Devil's fig (Datura stramonium), its toxicity levels are harmful to both human and animal health.”

Heat, salinity, and lack of water: how to protect corn from abiotic stress

The stress caused by water regulation issues and high salinity is one of the major challenges in corn cultivation. According to Duarte:

“It is important to have a good water balance, both for the natural development of the plant and for good nutrient absorption. High levels of soil salinity are antagonistic to good absorption of the cations Calcium and Potassium.”

This factor becomes especially critical from the V10 phase to R2 (milky grain), with greater impact during flowering, which can compromise fertilization and, consequently, final production. To this end, Duarte recommends:

• Resid MG at sowing — a mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum) that promotes root expansion and improves the utilization of water and nutrients, especially in soils with high salinity, from where the fungus was selected.

​“A larger root area reflects better soil exploration and a greater capacity for assimilation, having direct effects on reducing plant stress.”

• Dalgin Mg in the V10 phase — with algae, magnesium, boron, and molybdenum, to give the plant a boost at the right time.

​“It corrects possible magnesium deficiencies, being subsequently an asset during flowering, due to the presence of boron in its composition.”

Micronutrients: small, but they make all the difference

Even with good management of macronutrients, deficiencies in micronutrients can compromise the success of the campaign. Duarte draws attention to two essentials:

• Zinc, crucial in grain formation and starch synthesis.
• Manganese, essential for photosynthesis and protein synthesis.

How to ensure your presence? “I recommend the application of Codaquel (Zn-Mn), applied together with the post-emergence herbicide. This product formulated with zinc and manganese will be our tool to ensure good production.”

Smart nitrogen: higher yields, less waste

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient in corn cultivation, but it is essential that its application is done in a strategic and phased:

Ideal distribution:

• 15% at planting
• 70% between V10 and the end of flowering
• 15% at grain filling

Corresponding approximately to:

• 20 kg of nitrogen per ton of grain
• 12 kg per ton of dry matter (silage)

To improve efficiency:

“I suggest the foliar application of Utrisha N, between the V6 and V8 stages. The bacteria present in this product converts atmospheric nitrogen and makes it available to the plant.” In addition: “The most important thing is that this bacteria allows the plant to be able to ‘self-regulate’ and ensure the necessary nitrogen levels at key moments of its need, even functioning under conditions of reduced nitrogen fertilizer.”