Can maize cultivars with low mineral nutrient concentrations in the grains help to reduce the need for fertilizers in third world countries?

Abstract

An earlier study revealed considerable genotypic variation in grain N, P and K concentrations (GNC, GPC and GKC, respectively) in tropical maize. The expression of varietal differences in GNC, GPC and GKC, however, may depend on environmental conditions such as the N status of the soil. Two tropical maize hybrids (Suwan 2301 and CP 1) with comparable yielding capacity, but contrasting GNCs, GPCs and GKCs, were therefore grown at four levels of N in a field experiment at Farm Suwan (Thailand, latitude 14.5°N). Suwan 2301 exhibited a higher GNC than did CP 1 at all rates of N, but large differences in GPC and GKC were found only at high N fertilization. This was obviously due to individual grain yield responses of the cultivars to increasing rates of N fertilizer, demonstrating that grain nutrient concentrations are, at least in part, functions of the amount of grain carbohydrates which dilute a genetically and environmentally fixed amount of grain P and K. As compared to Suwan 2301, CP 1 accumulated less N, P and K in the grains at almost all levels of N fertilization, confirming our hypothesis that the cultivation of maize genotypes with low grain mineral nutrient concentrations may help third-world cash-crop farmers to reduce the need for scarce and costly mineral fertilizers. This finding has to be verified at reduced availability of soil −P, −K, and water.