Mind Extra humic fertilizer for corn in the conditions of the Kharkiv region
The correct use of organic and mineral fertilizers plays an important role in increasing corn yields in the soil and climatic conditions of the Kharkiv region.
In the Kharkiv region in 2018–2020, the effectiveness of organic, organo-mineral fertilizers and the drug Mind Extra was studied. The experiments were conducted in our laboratory on plots of 120–270 m² with four-fold repetition. The soil in 2018–2019 was ordinary black soil on loess loam, in 2020 - ordinary carbonate black soil. The humus content in the arable horizon was 4.7–5.2%. The predecessor of corn was steamed winter wheat.
After harvesting the predecessor, the field was harrowed with disk harrows, and in early September, plowing was carried out with a plow to a depth of 25–27 cm. In the spring, cover harrowing and two cultivations were used. Corn of the first generation variety No. 1 was sown in a square-nest method (70×70 cm), and in small areas - manually.
Weather conditions varied significantly during the years of the study. In 2018, 241 mm of precipitation fell in the spring and in June-July, which was more than twice the average multi-year norm. The growing season of 2019 was dry: from March to September, only 156 mm of precipitation fell, which is 121 mm less than the norm.
Research results
The effect of Mind Extra compared to granulated superphosphate
Study of the reaction of corn to the application of Mind Extra and other organo-mineral fertilizers.
In 2018–2019, the effect of fertilizers during sowing on the yield of corn grain was studied, including the drug Mind Extra Agro.Bio (Table 1).
| Experiment option | 2018 | 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain harvest | Yield increase | Grain harvest | Yield increase | |
| Control (without fertilizer) | 70.8 | --- | 46 | --- |
| Granulated superphosphate, 0.2 c/ha (1 g per nest) | 79.2 | 8.4 | 52.6 | 6.6 |
| Granulated superphosphate, 0.5 c/ha (2.5 g per nest) | 81.6 | 10.8 | 54 | 8 |
| Granulated superphosphate, 0.2 c/ha (1 g per nest) + ammonium sulfate, 0.5 c/ha (2.5 g per nest) | 79.4 | 8.6 | 54.8 | 8.8 |
| Organic-mineral mixture (3 t/ha humus + 1.5 c/ha superphosphate), 150 g per nest | 82.4 | 11.6 | 55.8 | 9.8 |
| Mind Extra (2l/ha) | 83.6 | 12.8 | 53.2 | 7.2 |
Applying 1 g of granulated superphosphate to the nests in 2018 provided a yield increase of 8.4 c/ha. Superphosphate was most effective when applied in small doses over a larger area. Joint application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers did not provide an additional yield increase. An organic-mineral mixture (humus + powdered superphosphate) increased the yield by 11.6 c/ha in 2018.
Mind Extra showed high efficiency. Mind Extra increased grain yield by 12.8 c/ha when sowing in 2018 and by 7.2 c/ha in 2019.
Research on Mind Extra humic fertilizer and other micronutrients in 2020
In 2020, the effect of microfertilizers on corn yields was studied in a separate experiment, where Adept, Amino Energy, and potassium humate were tested, which were applied during sowing. Observations showed that in the initial period of vegetation, plants on the variant with Adept stood out noticeably in terms of growth and development power. A less pronounced effect was observed on plots with Amino Energy and potassium humate.
The largest increase in silage yield (24 c/ha) was obtained from Adept. Amino Energy and potassium humate provided smaller increases (19 and 12 c/ha, respectively). The relatively low yield increases in 2020 are probably due to the experiment being conducted on carbonate chernozem. Studies by our scientists show that on soils with a high lime content (sands and effervescent chernozems), humic acid quickly becomes insoluble, which reduces its physiological activity.
Conclusions
- Mind Extra Agro.Bio, applied under plowing, significantly increases grain and corn silage yields. Lowering the dose reduces yield gains but increases the efficiency of a fertilizer unit.
- An organic-mineral mixture of humus and superphosphate provides a yield increase compared to the same dosage of humic fertilizers. The effectiveness of the mixture and superphosphate increases when applied under plowing.
- Adept is an effective fertilizer that provides high increases in grain yield and corn silage mass.
- The most effective way to apply mineral and organo-mineral fertilizers is to apply them simultaneously with corn sowing.