Page 6 - Vol.40-No.4 issue

CROP PROTECTION

African maize offers big opportunities for
foliar feeding

are Omex 3X Emulsion with a full comple-
ment of macro and micronutrients and Omex
Bio 20 o#ering the same nutrient pro"le, but
with an added biostimulant boost to root
development, and achieved by inclusion
of organic material sourced from a speci"c
marine alga (seaweed). “These products are
must for maize farmers”, says Oskar.
The beauty of Bio 20 is how it allows maize
to ‘max-out’ in yield and production even
when at risk from damage caused by high at-
Omex Bio 20 and Omex 3X Emulsion give mospheric temperatures, unfavourable soil
much needed boosts to maize in the early conditions including moisture availability
growth stages (Picture credit Omex) and disease; and risks that will sound highly
familiar to maize farmers across Africa. “Afri-
can maize producers can use either depend-
ing upon the availability in their country.
Both are applied as foliar sprays in the early
vegetative stages of the crop,” Oskar told
DR TERRY MABBETT Arab World Agribusiness.
Maize is the most widely grown cereal sta-
ple. Maize generates the biggest global ton- Potassium'–'the'gatekeeper'
nage, highest yield on a per hectare basis nutrient
and the biggest above ground biomass of all Potassium is required in large amounts for
the major, mainstream cereal crops. normal growth and development and dur-
Maize is the most widely grown crop in ing its pivotal role in plant metabolism and
sub-Saharan Africa and a staple food for an water relations. As such potassium is called
estimated 50 per cent of the population. ‘the gatekeeper’. Potassium plays an impor-
Maize is grown the length and breadth of tant role in regulating the water content of
Africa and key countries dominating maize the plant and with an adequate supply of
production in the various regions are: South potassium plants can survive drought stress
Africa (17.10 million tonnes - mt) and Malawi more easily.
(3.72 mt) in Southern Africa, Nigeria (12.74 Potassium is essential for the transport of
mt) and Ghana (3.40 mt) in West Africa, Ethi- sugar from the leaves to the storage organs
opia (10.20 mt), Tanzania (5.90 mt), Kenya where the sugar is converted to starch. It
(2.90 mt) and Uganda (2.80 mt) in Eastern Af- plays a major role in maintaining the turgor
rica and Egypt (7.44 mt) in North Africa (rigidity) of plant tissue. Leaves need to be
Maize is a prime target for foliar feeding Maize is the most widely grown cereal turgid to remain fully extended to maximise
with soluble nutrients says Ben Odunlami crop (Picture credit Omex) the surface exposed to sunlight that provides
(Technical Sales Manager, Africa) and Oskar ing from the soil and into the roots of the the energy to convert carbon dioxide in the
Winkler (Export Sales Manager, Africa) at maize plant. Soils may be inherently de"- atmosphere to sugars in the leaves. Plants
Omex Agri!uids in the United Kingdom and cient in zinc or de"cient in plant available well supplied with potassium also seem to
clearly with an eye on African maize produc- zinc because the micronutrient is locked up be less susceptible to pest attacks and infec-
tion which is fast approaching 100 mt. due to speci"c soil or climatic conditions. tion by pathogenic fungi.
Soluble'zinc'as'a'seed'treatment Zinc de"ciency is aggravated in soils with “Potassium is clearly major requirement
high organic matter, a high pH (alkaline) for fast growing maize crops and in quan-
Essential nutrients in the right amounts and those rich in phosphorous, which locks tity,” says Ben Odunlami. Omex o#ers two
and proportions are, by de"nition a must for up zinc as insoluble zinc phosphate. Clearly equivalent products – Omex K41 (41.00%
all crops including maize although some are there has to be another way to get zinc into potassium w/v) and Omex Sequential 2
‘more essential than others’ depending on the maize plant and that avenue is through (40.00% potassium w/v) and applied as foliar
the crop. Zinc is the ‘make or break’ nutri- the leaves using soluble zinc as a foliar spray. sprays at, respectively, 3.0 -5.0 l/ha and 2.5
ent for maize. Zinc plays a crucial role in ba- l/ha. Maize growers can use either depend-
sic plant metabolism and enhances growth, “Top of our product list for treatment of ing upon availability in their country to rest
yield, and the quality of maize grain by stim- maize with zinc is Kingfol Zn formulated assured they are furnishing the very high re-
ulating chlorophyll production, photosyn- with the highest quality mineral elements, quirement for potassium,” says Ben.
thetic activity, uptake of other nutrients and marketed as a highly concentrated liquid for-
protein biosynthesis. mulation (70% Zn w/v) and in this instance More'zinc'required
applied as a seed treatment @ 0.25l/100kg
As the ‘make or break’ nutrient for maize, seed,” says Ben. The constituents disperse In general maize crops ‘cannot get enough
zinc is required throughout the entire period easily with no requirement for pre-mixing zinc’. Oskar and Ben told Arab World Agri-
of crop growth to ensure the harvest of zinc- and ideal for correcting a speci"c zinc de"- business how zinc has gone foliar in applica-
enriched grain. Zinc enrichment of maize ciency. tion to growing maize crops, so I asked them
grain is a growing global challenge to ensure what Omex had to o#er African maize grow-
the health and well-being of human popula- Bio'boost'for'maize'seedlings ers to satisfy this high requirement for zinc
tions who rely on maize as the main staple. during the active growth stages of the crop.
Many African countries fall into this category. “Targeted at the seedling stage is a pair of
products that boost maize seedling growth “This high and essential requirement can
There are major constraints on zinc mov- and establishment”, said Oskar Winkler. They be provided by one of our newest and most
4 Vol. 40 No. 4