Page 7 - Vol.40-No.4 issue

CROP PROTECTION 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 Maize is a critically-important food
must for maize farmers”, says Oskar. staple for millions of people in Africa
The beauty of Bio 20 is how it allows maize (Picture credit Omex)
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' Well-timed treatments with Omex
nage, highest yield on a per hectare basis nutrient Kingfol Zn are rewarded with zinc-en-
and the biggest above ground biomass of all Potassium is required in large amounts for riched grain (Picture credit Omex)
the major, mainstream cereal crops. normal growth and development and dur- sulphur (87.50% w/v). De!ciencies of either
Maize is the most widely grown crop in ing its pivotal role in plant metabolism and nutrient are re"ected in both crop yield and
sub-Saharan Africa and a staple food for an water relations. As such potassium is called quality with de!ciency symptoms as various
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 forms of foliar chlorosis (leaf yellowing), and
Africa and key countries dominating maize the plant and with an adequate supply of often di#cult to distinguish.
production in the various regions are: South potassium plants can survive drought stress The source of sulphur de!ciency is the
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 most interesting. In years gone by sulphur
mt) and Ghana (3.40 mt) in West Africa, Ethi- sugar from the leaves to the storage organs from industrial pollution was an important
opia (10.20 mt), Tanzania (5.90 mt), Kenya where the sugar is converted to starch. It source for cereal crops including maize.
(2.90 mt) and Uganda (2.80 mt) in Eastern Af- plays a major role in maintaining the turgor But as countries across the world including
rica and Egypt (7.44 mt) in North Africa (rigidity) of plant tissue. Leaves need to be those in Africa strive to clean up their indus-
Maize is a prime target for foliar feeding Maize is the most widely grown cereal turgid to remain fully extended to maximise tries, so sulphur de!ciency has shown itself
with soluble nutrients says Ben Odunlami crop (Picture credit Omex) the surface exposed to sunlight that provides with farmers required to rectify the situation.
(Technical Sales Manager, Africa) and Oskar ing from the soil and into the roots of the the energy to convert carbon dioxide in the “Omex Sulphomex is applied as a foliar spray
Winkler (Export Sales Manager, Africa) at maize plant. Soils may be inherently de"- atmosphere to sugars in the leaves. Plants to maize at a rate of 1.5 – 3.0 l/ha, Dr Ben
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- Odunlami told Arab World Agribusiness.
tion which is fast approaching 100 mt. due to speci"c soil or climatic conditions. tion by pathogenic fungi. Mature maize outstrips all other cereals in biomass (Picture Sulphur is a structural component of two
Soluble'zinc'as'a'seed'treatment Zinc de"ciency is aggravated in soils with “Potassium is clearly major requirement credit Omex) major amino acids, cysteine, and methio-
high organic matter, a high pH (alkaline) for fast growing maize crops and in quan- nine, which are essential for the formation
Essential nutrients in the right amounts and those rich in phosphorous, which locks tity,” says Ben Odunlami. Omex o#ers two novel products. Omex Zynergy containing maintaining high pollen viability and mini-
and proportions are, by de"nition a must for up zinc as insoluble zinc phosphate. Clearly equivalent products – Omex K41 (41.00% zinc (4.72% w/v) but also copper (2.66% w/v) mising the occurrence of inferior grains in of proteins with numerous roles in the maize
all crops including maize although some are there has to be another way to get zinc into potassium w/v) and Omex Sequential 2 and sulphur (9.10% w/v). Zynergy is applied the mature corn ear. plant such as: chlorophyll production, tissue
‘more essential than others’ depending on the maize plant and that avenue is through (40.00% potassium w/v) and applied as foliar as a foliar spray at 0.5 – 1.0 l of product per Copper plays an important part in photo- growth and cell development, carbon and
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 ha. This unique complex of copper and zinc synthesis and the binding of cells that sup- nitrogen metabolism and the production of
ent for maize. Zinc plays a crucial role in ba- l/ha. Maize growers can use either depend- corrects de!ciencies and improves plant port plant structure. And thus positively af- energy via light-powered photosynthesis.
sic plant metabolism and enhances growth, “Top of our product list for treatment of ing upon availability in their country to rest health and tolerance to abiotic stress,” Oskar
yield, and the quality of maize grain by stim- maize with zinc is Kingfol Zn formulated assured they are furnishing the very high re- and Ben told Arab World Agribusiness. fecting stem strength and the development Foliar'feeding'the'way'forward'
ulating chlorophyll production, photosyn- with the highest quality mineral elements, quirement for potassium,” says Ben. of new shoot and root tissue. Copper is also a for'maize
thetic activity, uptake of other nutrients and marketed as a highly concentrated liquid for- Zinc is at the very heart of maize metabo- co-factor for a number of enzymes involved
protein biosynthesis. mulation (70% Zn w/v) and in this instance More'zinc'required lism and the most common micronutrient in protein synthesis and carbohydrate me- Foliar feeding is clearly the way forward for
applied as a seed treatment @ 0.25l/100kg de!ciency in this cereal crop. Zinc is involved tabolism. Last but not least copper forms maize. It allows farmers to rapidly treat crops
As the ‘make or break’ nutrient for maize, seed,” says Ben. The constituents disperse In general maize crops ‘cannot get enough in the formation and activation of plant hor- part of phenolic compounds that plants
zinc is required throughout the entire period easily with no requirement for pre-mixing zinc’. Oskar and Ben told Arab World Agri- mones (auxins), like Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) use to suppress infection by pathogenic mi- with appropriate products at the right time
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- and which regulate root development, water crobes. in relation to speci!c stages in crop growth
enriched grain. Zinc enrichment of maize ciency. tion to growing maize crops, so I asked them uptake, "owering and fruit and seed set. The and development and any speci!c nutrient
grain is a growing global challenge to ensure what Omex had to o#er African maize grow- micronutrient plays a key role in chlorophyll Sulphur'–'a'‘new’'nutrient're1 de!ciency. Omex Agri"uids has a comprehen-
the health and well-being of human popula- Bio'boost'for'maize'seedlings ers to satisfy this high requirement for zinc production, carbohydrate metabolism and quirement'for'maize sive portfolio of high quality soluble nutrient
tions who rely on maize as the main staple. during the active growth stages of the crop. products in both liquid and water soluble sus-
Many African countries fall into this category. “Targeted at the seedling stage is a pair of cell elongation which in turn impacts leaf Last but not least in the Omex portfolio of
products that boost maize seedling growth “This high and essential requirement can size and early corn ear development. Zinc products for African maize is Omex Sulpho- pension to meet maize farmers’ needs across
There are major constraints on zinc mov- and establishment”, said Oskar Winkler. They be provided by one of our newest and most is also reported as crucial in attaining and mex containing nitrogen (15.00% w/v) and the continent of Africa. Circle 4 on enquiry card
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