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 maize grain filling.
Improving Grain Maize Protein and Amino Acids Content
Good crop nutrition will ensure high protein levels of grain in the maize cob. The correct balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and zinc will improve grain protein and thereby maize grain quality.
Crop Nutrition and Maize Grain Protein
Nitrogen
Potassium
Good potassium nutrition increases protein content of the grain and also the levels of amino acids cystine and methionine.
Sulphur and Iron
Sulphur supply is particularly important in the conversion of nitrogen to protein and in improving grain maize quality.
Iron is important to plant metabolism as a component of enzymes and protein, and in nitrate reductase for reduction of nitrate to ammonium and then amino acids.
Recommended Yara Fertilizers for Maize
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YaraBela CAN
27% N - Granular calcium ammonium nitrate based nitrogen fertilizer for use on any crop.
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YaraBela AXAN
27% N + 3.6% S - Uniform compound granular nitrogen and sulphur fertilizer for use on all crops.
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YaraVita MAIZE BOOST
A liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing a high concentrations of phosphate together with zinc, magnesium and potash for foliar application to maize and other crops.
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YaraVita FOLIAR POTASH
A liquid foliar fertilizer containing 500 g/l potash for foliar application to provide additional potassium or correct potash deficiencies in a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita BORTRAC 150
A liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 150 g/l boron for foliar application to provide additional boron or to treat boron deficiencies in a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita ZINTRAC 700
A fully formulated flowable liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 700 g/l zinc for foliar application to prevent and treat zinc deficiency on a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita THIOTRAC 300
A fully formulated liquid fertilizer solution containing 300 g/l sulphur for foliar application to prevent and treat sulphur deficiencies on a wide range of crops.