Challenges and best practices in cultivation and soil management for corn production

Corn is a crucial crop for Brazilian agriculture and occupies a prominent position among agricultural activities. However, in 2023, production was marked by ups and downs, which makes us reflect on the best practices to achieve good productivity and profitability rates, as experienced in the first harvest last year, in this stage of planting safrinha corn.

Of the challenges experienced last year, without a shadow of a doubt, climate change represented - and continues to represent - a growing challenge for rural producers. Rainfall variability and the occurrence of extreme weather events require adaptive and resilient management strategies.

In this sense, nitrogen fertilization, especially, needs to be adequate from the beginning of the corn cycle, a period in which more precipitation occurs. For this reason, it is recommended to apply nitrogen in advance, up to a maximum of V2 or V3 (subdivisions of the vegetative stages).  

This management has been carried out so that it is possible to make nitrogen available to the plant appropriately at the V4 stage, which is a crucial moment for defining productive potential. Therefore, the presence of nitrogen in the soil is essential for adequate plant nutrition and the maximization of the aforementioned parameter. 

Thinking about second harvest crops, this management may be even more necessary, since rainfall is scarcer and more irregular during this period. In this situation, if the application is made at V4 there may not be enough moisture in the soil to make nitrogen available and (even more so if the source is urea) there may be significant losses of the nutrient through volatilization, drastically reducing the efficiency of fertilization. In summer corn, it is possible to wait until V4 to apply nitrogen, since the volume of precipitation tends to be greater and more constant. However, even with favorable conditions, the guarantee of efficiency can be greater with earlier application. 

Regarding damage resulting from stress, whether water or thermal, foliar applications must be carried out with micronutrients, such as manganese, copper and zinc, which act as cofactors (activators) of antioxidant enzymes. These enzymes, in turn, act to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are oxidizing molecules that degrade plant cells, damaging the plant's metabolism and resistance. With impaired metabolism, the plant becomes more susceptible to biotic and abiotic stresses, which is why the action of these enzymes is essential to maintain the integrity of the cells. In other words, micronutrients are essential for the plant to go through periods of stress, minimizing negative impacts. 

The fact is that corn demands precise and efficient nutritional management to meet its specific needs at each phase of the cycle. The use of biological products and adequate NPK fertilizer are important aspects to consider. Among the best practices, I recommend:

1- Strategic nutrition:

● Anticipate nitrogen fertilization to V2 or V3, maximizing nutrient absorption by plants.

● Apply micronutrients foliarly to minimize the impacts of abiotic stresses.

● Use biological products such as Azospirillum to promote nitrogen fixation and root growth.

● Adopt NPK fertilizer according to the specific needs of the soil and crop, considering the desired productive potential.

2- Soil management:

● Prepare the soil in appropriate conditions, avoiding compaction and optimizing sowing.

● Adopt conservation practices such as crop rotation and soil cover to improve long-term soil quality and fertility.

3 - Planning and monitoring:

● Seek support from technical professionals to assist in decision-making and the implementation of good agricultural practices.

● Invest in soil monitoring and analysis technologies to optimize plant nutrition management.

● Seek knowledge and constant updating on the best corn management practices

In general terms, success in corn production depends on the adoption of integrated management, which combines appropriate agricultural practices with specialized technical knowledge.

*Per Eduardo Zavaschi, corn specialist at Agroadvance, partner of Orbia