Dynamics of nutrients in the soil in areas intended for the production of forage maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Maize, when grown for fodder production requires special care with respect to the management of the soil. With the total harvest of aerial part, large quantities of nutrients are removed, and it can cause an imbalance of nutrients and rapid impoverishment of the soil and, as a consequence, the drop in productivity and low quality of silage in subsequent crops. The objective of this study was to elucidate the dynamics of extraction and export of nutrients from the soil by cultivation of maize for silage production. The absorption of nutrients by the culture is strongly influenced by factors such as climate, genotype, cropping systems and the level of productivity. In addition to increase on the quantities of nutrients in soil fertility of the maize for feed, it is essential to practice crop rotation and do not use the same area for consecutive years for the production of silage, due to the non-maintenance of coverage and susceptibility of the land to the occurrence of erosion. The cultivation of maize when grown for silage exports of the area of cultivation mean values of 21 kg N, 76 kg of K, 20 kg of Ca and 3.5 kg of Mg to more per hectare than when grown for the production of grain. The cultivation of maize for the production of forage promotes greater export of nutrients from the soil, when compared with the grain harvest.