Effect of zinc application on the maize

The article presents the results of field experience in studying the effect of zinc-containing fertilizers on the growth and yield of maize. The experiment was carried out under typical loamy chernozem in the loess of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe (Sumy region, Sumy oblast). The following plots were studied: 1) control; 2) pre-sowing treatment of corn seeds with Monozinc, 3) treatment of seeds with Monozinc + spraying in the phase of 3-5 leaves Nutrivant Plus (0.5 l/ha); 4) seed treatment with Monozinc + spraying Nutrivant Plus in the phase of 3‒5 leaves (0.5 l/ha) and 10-11 leaves (1 l/ha). Zn monocinc from «Compo» (Germany) and Nutrivant Plus grain from «ICL Fertilizers» (Israel) were used, a hybrid of corn was Inagua (FAO 210, France). An increasing of the leaf surface area, plant height, height of the main ear in maize and yield under zinc fertilizers application has been established. The height of the main ear in maize was at the level of 72‒78 cm, the application of fertilizers slightly increased this indicator. The zinc application clearly influenced on the increasing of maize yields, but their effectiveness more depended on weather conditions. Under stress, the application of Nutrivant gave a larger increasing of grain yield. The maize yield increased to 0.35 t/ha under Monozinc seed treatment and with foliar top dressing with a Nutrivant plus 0.73, two-time top dressing ‒ 0.97 t/ha. On average, over two years of research, the weight of 1000 seeds in the control was 301.1 g, in fertilized plots ‒ 303.8‒310.9 g. The weight of grain in the treatment 2 was 2.1 g, in the 3 ‒ 5.8 g and on the 4-th ‒ 9.7 g. Monozinc treatment of seeds leads to increased germination energy to 3.1 % (compared to control), field and laboratory germination to 3.3 and 3.0 %, respectively.