Plant growth stages and nutrient requirements

Nutrient management through the different growth stages of a crop is crucial for optimal yields, write Kynoch optimiser agriculturalist Hentie Cilliers and Dr Chris Schmidt, senior agriculturalist at Kynoch.

In previous articles, we focused on the principles and nutrients needed to achieve an optimal start for your crop. A crop’s nutrient requirements are influenced by the crop type, growth stage, and growth conditions.

In this article, we explore the general principles that influence the nutrient requirements and their application in the later stages of development, as well as Plant Nutrient Scheduling®.

Fertilizer Programme

When you compile a fertiliser programme, you first need to calculate what the total nutrient requirement will be. Fertilisation would be easy if we could apply all the required nutrients at once and then rely on the plant to absorb them as needed.

Unfortunately, though, soils have many different properties – for example, clay content, organic matter content, and pH – all of which influence the availability of the nutrients.

It becomes necessary to implement strategies to keep nutrients available to the plant on a continual basis. One such strategy is to split fertilisers applications.

As phenological stages change, so do the plant’s nutrient requirements. For example, during vegetative growth, a nutrient like nitrogen is more important, whereas potassium is more critical during fruit growth. The same principle is true for all 14 essential minerals and five beneficial nutrients (White et al, 2010).

Thus, the nutrient ratio changes according to the requirement for every growth stage. Meticulous planning is needed to ensure the correct nutrient is available at the correct time. By linking the total nutrient requirement with the growth stages, one can determine the requirement for each stage.

The BBCH-Scale

Water, temperature, light, and nutrients are the primary factors affecting growth. These four elements affect growth hormones in the plant, consequently affecting the growth speed. Thus, the time that a plant takes to develop to a specific growth stage can vary.

It is important to plan the fertiliser application according to growth stages rather than the number of days after sowing, which can cause major misalignments with the actual nutrient requirements. Awareness of your crop’s current and upcoming growth stages gives insight to apply fertilisers at the right moment.

Different methodologies were developed to identify the different stages of plant growth. Some approaches are straightforward and broad in scope, while others are comprehensive and specific. In an effort to standardise the classification, scientists from different organisations and institutes worked together to establish the BBCH-scale (Meier et al, 2009).

According to this scale, plant development is broken down into principal and secondary growth stages, both numbered 0 to 9. The following are the 10 stages of plant growth on the BBCHscale: germination, leaf development, formation of side shoots, stem elongation, vegetative plant parts, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, ripening, and senescence (BSSH working group, 2001).

Adjusting the timing and type or source of fertiliser will ensure that the nutrients are available at the required time.

Plant height and tractor clearance also influence the timing. Under irrigation, it is easier to do multiple applications, depending on the irrigation system.

By knowing the total nutrient requirements and the requirement for each growth stage, identifying the growth stages, and considering factors that influence the timing of application, will assist with Plant Nutrient Scheduling. This is imperative for optimal yields and quality.

Contact your local agriculturalist to assist you in creating your Plant Nutrient Scheduling.

Sources:

• BBCH working group. 2001. ‘Growth stages of mono- and dicotyledonous plants’. Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. bit.ly/3NOwpId;
• Meier, U, et al. 2009. ‘The BBCH system to coding the phenological growth stages of plants-history and publications’. Journal für Kulturpflanzen, 61, 41–52. bit.ly/4f7j49M; White, PJ and Brown, PH.
• ‘Plant nutrition for sustainable development and global health’. Annals of Botany. 105(7):1073-80. bit.ly/3YsrVMs.

Email info@kynoch.co.za, phone 011 317 2000, or visit kynoch.co.za.

The post Plant Growth Stages and Nutrient Requirements for Optimal Yields first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

 One need only look at the high incidence of scurvy, rickets, beriberi and pellagra in the world’s poorest countries to spot the connection between dietary deficiencies and these heart-rending manifestations of human malnutrition. Similarly, a field of wilting and discoloured maize clearly indicates that something essential is missing from the soil. Studies have shown conclusively that numerous elements are crucial for plant nutrition. Consequently, shortfalls can lead to growth anomalies, increased vulnerability to disease, pests and drought, and low yields.

Extreme weather conditions, erosion and pH changes can leave soil lacking nutrients. Animal manure and vegetable compost are rich sources of nutrients and can help overcome such deficiencies in the growing area. However, their composition is random, inconsistent and unknown. These natural solutions can be helpful. But, their overall benefits are no match for those of the precisely formulated granular and liquid commercial fertilizers designed to optimise plant nutrition.

In South Africa, where agricultural productivity is crucial for food security and economic growth, understanding plant nutrition is vital. The country’s diverse soil types, climate, and crop varieties require tailored fertiliser solutions to optimise yields.

In South Africa, where agricultural productivity is crucial for food security and economic growth, understanding plant nutrition is vital. The country’s diverse soil types, climate, and crop varieties require tailored fertiliser solutions to optimise yields.

Fulfilling the Complex Nutritional Requirements of Plants

Although maize, cabbages and potatoes might appear to be relatively simple lifeforms, their physiology is complex. They all depend on access to air, water and selected minerals in their immediate environment. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is plentiful, and irrigation systems can compensate for water shortages during periods of limited rainfall. However, fertilisers remain the only effective way to ensure the required balance of the many essential elements in the soil. Furthermore, a plant’s needs vary at different stages in its lifecycle. For example, phosphorus is crucial to plant nutrition to promote the rapid root growth essential for establishing seedlings. Later it is necessary to aid flowering while also helping to withstand harsh weather and environmental stress.

While phosphorus is the main ingredient of suitable starter fertiliser, additional elements are essential to meet the seedlings’ immediate needs. Naturally, they require nitrogen and potassium. However, magnesium and sulphur and traces of the micronutrients zinc, copper, boron and molybdenum are also necessary at this stage. Chelation can help to ensure that zinc and copper are readily available for plant nutrition.

In South Africa, maize, sugarcane, and soya beans are among the most widely cultivated crops. Each has unique nutritional requirements, making it essential to choose the right fertiliser blend. For example, maize requires adequate nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, whilst sugarcane benefits from added micronutrients like zinc and copper.

Offering Crops a Healthy and Balanced Diet

Other mixtures with different elements in various concentrations may be necessary as the growing crop’s needs vary. Thus the best option for farmers is to follow a fertiliser application programme that best suits a given crop. When planting in previously uncultivated or well-used ground, it might pay to conduct a preliminary soil analysis. The results will indicate which elements may most need replenishing to create the ideal balance. Like humans, crops also require a balanced diet to remain healthy.

Kynoch offers farm visits, in-depth soil analysis and a wide range of fertilisers to cover every aspect of plant nutrition. We invite you to download the profile sheets for these leading products that may interest you.

In South Africa’s varied climate, soil analysis is crucial to determine nutrient deficiencies. Kynoch’s expert soil analysis services help farmers identify areas for improvement, ensuring optimal fertiliser application. Additionally, Kynoch’s range of fertilisers is designed to address specific regional needs, such as:

– High-phosphorus fertilisers for maize in acidic soils
– Zinc-enriched fertilisers for sugarcane in coastal regions
– Balanced NPK fertilisers for soya beans in dryland areas

By understanding the complex nutritional requirements of crops and addressing regional soil challenges, South African farmers can optimise yields, improve crop quality, and contribute to the country’s agricultural prosperity.

Kynoch – Enhanced efficiency through innovation

The post Adequate Plant Nutrition is Cruicial For Healthy Growth first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.