Application of Zn-containing foliar fertilisers for recovery of the grain productivity potential of Zn-deficient maize plants

Abstract

Maize is one of the most sensitive industrial crops of zinc sup-ply. Questions about fertilisation methods and the type of fertilis-ers used are the subject of serious scientific discussion. The key objective of this paper was to evaluate the possibilities to recover the yielding potential of Zn-deficient young maize plants by application of nanosized Zn-containing foliar fertilisers. The agronomic response of Zn-deficient maize plants to foliar fertilisation with nanoscale zinc-containing foliar fertilisers was investigated. The study was conducted in two stages: i) planting and growing the plants under controlled conditions in a zinc-defi-cient environment for three months; and ii) moving the plants and continuing the experiment in field conditions. A single spray with two nanosized zinc-containing foliar fertilisers was carried out. The physiological status of the plants and the dynamic of zinc and micro-and macroelements concentration in plant organs were monitored. The influence of foliar zinc fertilisation on yield and grain structural components has been determined. Our results indi-cated that zinc fertilisation throughout the initial growth stages plays a decisive role in the formation of the reproductive organs of maize plants. Foliar zinc fertilisers can entirely recover the physiological performance of plants grown under conditions of zinc deficiency.