Innovative technology for the production of corn for grain

The practical application of the developed innovative technology for the production of corn for grain ensures stabilization of the production of corn grain used both for food and feed purposes. After the technology is positively verified in practice, it can also be used in other directions of corn production - for green fodder, silage production or biogas production.

Development and implementation of improved technology for the production of corn for grain, with particular emphasis on soil fertilization and foliar application of silicon. Increasing corn grain production on the farm with full and half-limited NPK fertilization.

• Currently, corn for grain is grown on the farm on an area of ​​30 ha, and the average yield is 7 t/ha.
• The introduction of the tested fertilization technology and foliar application of silicon will contribute to an increase in grain yield (with 14% moisture content) by 0.3 t/ha with full NPK fertilization, i.e. an additional 9 t of grain. However, on a national scale, the increase in harvest would amount to 450,000. tons (with an area of ​​1.5 million ha).

t is also expected to achieve an increase in grain yields of 0.5 t/ha with the NPK dose reduced by half. This involves the possibility of reducing NPK fertilization by half by introducing SiGS soil fertilizer and Barrier Si-Ca foliar fertilizer.

The specific goals are:

1. improvement of grain quality (lower mitotoxin content, higher density);
2. increase in plant biomass (fresh and dry mass);
3. improving soil properties;
4. improvement of physiological parameters of plants (LAI index, PAR absorption index, NDVI index);
5. limiting plant infection by diseases and pests.

Project activities

The farm will use a fertilizer containing silicon produced in Norway and Barrier Si-Ca foliar fertilizer. In order to obtain reliable and useful for agricultural practice, it is necessary to carry out research in large-scale fields.

• This requires the farmer to purchase modern and efficient equipment. Tests cannot be performed with used machines, and it is forbidden to mix tested seeds with others, because it is not known how a fertilizer that has not been used before will react.
• Preparing the site for corn for grain.
• Taking soil samples in spring before setting up the experiment.
• Pre-sowing cultivation and sowing of corn.
• Foliar application of Barrier Si-Ca fertilizer.
• Measurement of physiological parameters: NDVI, LAI, SPAD and PAR absorption.
• Assessment of plant infection by diseases and pests in the final stage of vegetation.
• Measurements during harvest: plant density, total yield of fresh and dry matter, grain moisture, grain yield (14% H20), number of cobs per plant, number of grains per cob, grain yield per cob (14% H2O).
• Grain yield will be assessed by sampling plants in specific parts of the field.
• Preparation of production profitability calculations with various fertilization options and foliar application of silicon.

The main benefits of the project

The development of an innovative corn production technology using soil fertilization with silicon and foliar application of this element should contribute to reducing NPK fertilization, improving the condition and health of plants and, as a result, increasing the yield and quality of corn grain. The products used in the technology (SIGS soil fertilizer and Barrier Si-Ca soil fertilizer) are safe for the natural environment.

Practice summary

The practical application of corn production technology for grain will ensure stabilization of the production of corn grain used both for food and feed purposes. The technology used can also be used to produce corn - for green fodder, silage production or biogas production.

Soil fertilization and foliar application of silicon increase the resistance of plants to abiotic factors, including drought, and reduce damage caused by pests whose development is favored by climate warming. By applying silicon fertilizer to the soil, which is unavailable in the EU, alone or in combination with foliar application of this element, the condition of plants will improve, they will be more resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions, diseases and pests and, as a result, the amount and quality of corn grain yield in conditions of full and half of the limited NPK fertilization. The products used in the technology are safe for the natural environment.

Results achieved

The operation aimed to develop and implement an improved technology for maize grain production, with particular emphasis on soil fertilization and foliar application of silicon.
As part of the project carried out in the years 2023–2024, the impact of soil fertilization and foliar application of silicon (Si) products on maize grain yield and quality was studied at two NPK fertilization levels (100% and 50%). The SiGS fertilizer was applied to the soil at doses of 100, 300, and 500 kg/ha, either individually or in combination with the foliar fertilizer Barrier Si-Ca (1 L/ha), and the effects were compared with a control treatment (without either fertilizer).

At full NPK fertilization, the highest grain yields were recorded in the following combinations:

•     SiGS – 500 kg/ha + Barrier Si-Ca – 1 L/ha (17.5% increase),
•     SiGS – 300 kg/ha + Barrier Si-Ca – 1 L/ha (16.5%),
•     SiGS – 500 kg/ha alone (16.3%).

At the reduced NPK rate (50%), the greatest yield increases were observed in the same combinations:
    18.1%, 16.3%, and 18.7%, respectively.
Reducing the NPK dose by half resulted in a 7.4% decrease in grain yield. The applied combinations had a beneficial effect on the incidence of diseases and damage caused by the European corn borer during the late vegetation period. They also contributed to a reduction in the content of the mycotoxin DON in the grain compared to the control treatment under full NPK fertilization.
The highest increase in net production value at full NPK fertilization was achieved with the application of SiGS (100 kg/ha) and Barrier Si-Ca (1 L/ha), while under reduced NPK fertilization, the most favorable economic result was observed with SiGS (300 kg/ha) combined with Barrier Si-Ca (1 L/ha).

    The main benefits resulting from the application of the results of the operation:

1. Enhanced fresh and dry biomass yield of maize.
2. Improved grain yield of maize.
3. Increased plant resilience to water stress.
4. Mitigation of plant diseases and damage caused by the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis).
5. Improved economic efficiency of maize grain production.   

Additional comments

Research is paying more and more attention to silicon (Si). It is a beneficial element that is neither macro- nor micro-element. Its use, both in the soil and in leaves, reduces the impact of harmful biotic and abiotic factors. This is confirmed by the results of research carried out in many countries in very different crops. The proposed SiGS soil fertilizer from Norway is not currently on the market. In 2021, the first research in Poland on its use in sugar beet cultivation was conducted by Artyszak (Artyszak and Hansen 2022). The results obtained were very interesting. In 2022, this experience is expanded and continued.