Farmers could significantly improve their maize yields and silage quality by analysing their crops and applying more precise nutrition. That's according to new research by Mole Valley Feed Solutions, which found that a large number of crops suffered from critical nutrient deficiencies last year.

Rather than assessing soil nutrition, the researchers decided to look at what the plants themselves were taking up. They sent samples of 23 maize crops from Cornwall to Gloucestershire at around the 20cm growth stage for Scientific Agricultural Partnership (SAP) analysis in June / July. And the results were stark: Almost all were critically low in nitrate, ammonia, molybdenum and sulphur, and most were low in magnesium, calcium, manganese and boron.

As a result, Lisa Hambly, head of grassland and forage agronomy at Mole Valley Farmers could significantly improve their maize yields and silage quality by analysing their crops and applying more precise nutrition. That's according to new research by Mole Valley Feed Solutions, which found that a large number of crops suffered from critical nutrient deficiencies last year.

Rather than assessing soil nutrition, the researchers decided to look at what the plants themselves were taking up. They sent samples of 23 maize crops from Cornwall to Gloucestershire at around the 20cm growth stage for Scientific Agricultural Partnership (SAP) analysis in June / July. And the results were stark: Almost all were critically low in nitrate, ammonia, molybdenum and sulphur, and most were low in magnesium, calcium, manganese and boron.

As a result, 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."

The crops sampled were all grown on soils that reached the target indices for pH, nitrogen, phosphate and potash (NPK), explains Bethany Sealey, junior ruminant account manager. "The key requirements for maize are NPK, magnesium, sulphur, calcium, zinc, boron, manganese, copper and iron."

Crops that are deficient in key nutrients will not only fail to reach their genetic yield potential, they will also likely fail to deliver the required nutrition to cows once ensiled, she adds. "This year we want to follow the results right through from field to clamp, to link the whole nutrition cycle together."

With increasingly unpredictable weather causing a forage shortage in many areas last year, producers are focusing on resilience, explains Ms Hambly. "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."

Newer varieties' yield potential is significantly higher than older varieties, and extra-early varieties will yield less than their later counterparts, possibly by 3t/ha. Those crops simply cannot be treated in the same way. "You have to look at it like feeding a cow – high-yielders need more nutrition than low-yielders," says Ms Hambly.

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 this winter's heavy rain, the first step before planting maize – or any other crop, including grass – should be to dig a hole and analyse soil condition and nutrition. "Following heavy rainfall, nitrogen and sulphur will have leached, and there will be more compaction. Getting that back in balance will make a massive difference."

SAP testing the plants and correcting deficiencies at an early stage will then yield significant benefits. "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 forwards," 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 better understanding, which will feed into our ruminant diets."

This links closely to balancing the ration, based on forage results. "Moving in-field nutrition forward will improve diet efficiency and accuracy – and that includes analysing muck and slurry that goes back on the field," says Ms Hambly. "We are increasingly connecting the dots between soil, crops, silage, cows, and ultimately muck. It's taking precision feeding right back to the field; and this joined-up thinking will increase farmers' sustainability, efficiency and profitability."

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