When Is the Best Time to Apply Foliar Fertilizer to Corn?

Corn is one of the most widely grown crops in the world, and fertilizing it is meant to ensure better growth. Foliar fertilizer, for instance, makes up for the shortcomings of root nutrient uptake. So when should you apply foliar fertilizer to corn? What should you pay attention to?

When should you apply foliar fertilizer to corn?

Foliar fertilizer is generally sprayed on corn during the seedling growth stage, 3-5 days before tasseling, during the flowering and grain-filling stage, and when the plants suffer from pests or diseases. It is best to spray before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m.; on a windless cloudy day, it can be sprayed all day long. When spraying foliar fertilizer on corn, strictly follow the instructions for use.

What should you pay attention to when applying foliar fertilizer to corn?

1. Weather for applying foliar fertilizer

Foliar fertilization is best carried out in relatively humid weather, keeping the leaves moist for 30-60 minutes. If heavy rain falls after spraying foliar fertilizer, spray once more. In addition, the effective period of foliar fertilizer is about 20 days over 3 weeks, and the interval between the first and second application is best kept at 10-15 days.

2. Spray concentration

The suitable spray concentrations for corn foliar fertilizer are: urea 0.5%-2%, monopotassium phosphate 0.3%-0.5%, ammonium sulfate 0.2%-9.3%, ammonium molybdate 0.01%, borax 0.1%-0.2%, zinc sulfate 0.1%-0.4%. At the same time, when applying fertilizer outside the roots, you can also add 10% wood ash water, 10% chicken manure liquid, 10%-20% rabbit manure liquid, or decomposed human urine, etc., which also have a fairly obvious yield-increasing effect.

3. Types

For foliar spraying on corn, fertilizer varieties such as urea, monopotassium phosphate, superphosphate, potassium sulfate, wood ash extract, and some micro-fertilizers can be selected and give better foliar fertilization results, while fertilizers containing chloride ions, volatile fertilizers, and sparingly soluble fertilizers such as ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride, and calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus fertilizers are not suitable for foliar fertilization.

4. Spray amount

The amount of corn foliar fertilizer spray liquid should be sufficient, and the number of applications should not be too few. For foliar fertilization, it is best when the fertilizer liquid is about to run off the leaf surface but has not yet run off. Generally, 45 kg of fertilizer liquid is used per mu. Even if a 1% urea solution is sprayed, the amount used per mu is no more than 2 kg of urea, sprayed 2-3 times continuously, with an interval of 7-10 days.

When mixing, note that acidic and alkaline fertilizers and pesticides should not be mixed. In addition, do not apply foliar fertilizer after the corn has been exposed to high temperatures and strong sunlight.