New research from Mole Valley Feed Solutions suggests that growers could significantly improve maize yields and silage quality by analysing crops and applying more precise nutrition.
Rather than assessing soil nutrition, researchers examined what the plants were taking up. They sent samples from 23 crops at the 20cm growth stage, from Cornwall to Gloucestershire, for Scientific Agricultural Partnership (SAP) analysis in June and July.
Almost all showed critical deficiencies in nitrate, ammonia, molybdenum and sulphur, and most were low in magnesium, calcium, manganese and boron.
Lisa Hambly, head of grassland and forage agronomy at Mole Valley Farmers, suggested applying specific soil and foliar treatments to rectify these deficiencies.
“Everyone talks about nitrogen, but crops need more than that. For example, sulphur is very underrated in crops and is essential for plants to utilise the nitrogen – if that is a limiting factor, you can apply as much nitrogen as you like, but it won’t get utilised in the correct way. It can cause more disease problems and issues when it comes to drying down at harvest.”
All of the crops sampled were grown on land that reached the target indices for pH, nitrogen, phosphate and potash (NPK), yet these were found lacking in the crop itself. According to Bethany Sealey, junior ruminant account manager, these deficiencies will stop crops from meeting genetic yield potential and will likely fail to deliver the required nutrition to cattle.
“This year we want to follow the results right through from field to clamp, to link the whole nutrition cycle together.”
Greater resilience
Lisa notes that the increasingly unpredictable weather means that producers are focusing on resilience. “We need to pay greater attention to the very early stages of a crop’s life: By six leaves, maize has already decided how many spaces it’s got on the plant for corn kernels. One week’s difference in development was everything last year.”
Nutrition also needs to be based on varietal choices, with newer varieties offering a high yield potential, while extra-early varieties will likely yield less than later counterparts.
More precise nutrition will maximise the plant’s genetic potential while improving nutrient use efficiency and protecting the environment, she adds. “We could be producing a lot more high-quality homegrown forage as a result.”
After the heavy rain this winter, she believes that the first step before planting should be to dig a hole and analyse the soil condition and nutrition. SAP testing at an early growth stage will then help to correct deficiencies.
“Every season, field conditions are going to be different, and connecting the whole forage system together based on testing what is happening, and taking steps to change the outcomes, is what will move nutrition on farm forward,” she adds.
“To drive this knowledge forward, we are expanding testing to grass and multi-species leys this year, alongside a grassland fertiliser trial, as these are under-researched areas. Creating a systems-based approach to grass nutrition will lead to a better understanding, which will feed into our ruminant diets.”