Correct Application Methods and Precautions for Corn Seed Fertilizer

Seed fertilizer refers to fertilizer applied near the seeds or mixed with the seeds at sowing or transplanting time to supply the nutrients needed for the initial stage of crop growth. When planting corn, applying seed fertilizer is very necessary, as it can guarantee the fertilizer needed for the early growth stage of corn and accelerate its growth rate. So how do you apply seed fertilizer during corn planting? What precautions are there?

1. How do you apply seed fertilizer during corn planting?

Seed fertilizer is mainly based on quick-acting nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. For spring corn in high-cold regions, because spring soil temperatures are low and available phosphorus is released slowly and in small amounts, phosphorus deficiency is more likely to occur; if high-quality decomposed organic fertilizer is mixed with phosphorus fertilizer as seed fertilizer, the effect is even better.

In fields where zinc fertilizer was not applied in the base fertilizer, zinc fertilizer can be used to dress the seeds, mixing 6-8 grams of zinc sulfate per kilogram of seeds. When chemical fertilizer is used as seed fertilizer, the amount should not be too large, so as not to affect seed germination. The fertilizer should be applied beside the seeds, 4-5 cm away from the seeds, either by hole application or band application.

1. Seed dressing: humic acid, biological fertilizer, and micro-fertilizers can be selected; dissolve the fertilizer, spray it on the corn seeds, stir while spraying so that the fertilizer solution evenly coats the seed surface, then dry in the shade before sowing.

2. Seed soaking: dissolve the fertilizer to a certain concentration, place the seeds in the solution and soak for 12 hours, then dry in the shade and sow immediately.

3. Band application or hole application: chemical fertilizer is suitable for band application or hole application, with an amount of 2 to 5 kg, but the fertilizer must be separated from the seeds; deep application is better, with a depth of 10 to 15 cm being appropriate. Urea, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride, and potassium chloride are not suitable as seed fertilizer.

2. What precautions are there for applying seed fertilizer?

1. Do not choose fertilizers with corrosive effects

Ammonium bicarbonate and ammonia water are volatile and corrosive, and easily burn seeds and seedlings. Superphosphate contains free sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, which can harm seed germination and seedling growth, so it is generally not suitable as seed fertilizer. Such fertilizers should be applied below the sowing furrow or separated from the seeds by a certain layer of soil, or superphosphate can be mixed with soil and farmyard manure before application.

2. Do not choose fertilizers with toxic ions

Chemical fertilizers such as potassium chloride and ammonium chloride contain chloride ions; after being applied to the soil, they produce water-soluble chlorides, which are unfavorable to seed germination and seedling growth. The nitrate ions contained in fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate also affect seed germination.

3. Do not choose fertilizers with toxic effects

Urea contains a small amount of biuret, which has toxic effects on seeds and seedlings.

4. Do not choose strongly alkaline chemical fertilizers

Strongly alkaline fertilizers such as kiln ash potassium fertilizer and steel slag phosphate fertilizer are not suitable as seed fertilizer. Kiln ash potassium fertilizer is highly hygroscopic and releases a large amount of heat after absorbing water, easily burning seeds and young roots. If it must be used as seed fertilizer, it must be mixed with organic fertilizer, applied into the sowing furrow or hole, and then sown and covered with soil.

5. Do not choose undecomposed farmyard manure

Rural areas commonly use barnyard manure, human feces and urine water, etc. as seed fertilizer. If they are not decomposed, the large amount of heat energy released during fermentation easily burns the root system, and the released ammonia gas scorches the seedlings. Therefore, undecomposed organic fertilizer should not be applied; only after high-temperature composting and full decomposition can it be used as seed fertilizer. In production, ammonium sulfate, superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and decomposed organic fertilizer can all be applied as seed fertilizer.