The impact of nutrient elements on the formation of corn productivity zones
Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of spatial variability in soil agrochemical characteristics on the formation of maize productivity zones and to evaluate the feasibility of implementing variable rate seeding (VRS) technology under real farm conditions. The research focused on verifying hypotheses regarding the influence of key fertility indicators on yield and justifying a zonal approach to seeding rate management. Methods. Field trials were conducted in 2023-2024 across an area exceeding 1000 hectares in the Polissia–Forest-Steppe transition zone of Ukraine. The land was divided into 82 productivity zones based on agrochemical and spatial parameters. Soil samples (0-20 cm, 0-30 cm) were analyzed for pH, organic matter, cation exchange capacity (CEC), macro- and micronutrient content. Data analysis included geoinformation modeling, Pearson correlation analysis, and thematic mapping using QGIS and Python. Results. The study revealed strong and consistent positive correlations between maize yield and the levels of organic matter, CEC, and pH. The highest correlations with yield were observed for available phosphorus, OM, and CEC. In contrast, reserve phosphorus and excessive levels of Zn and Mn showed a negative relationship with productivity. Spatial modeling confirmed the presence of stable zones with either high or low yield potential. The findings support the application of VRS as a precision tool for differentiated seeding based on spatial fertility patterns. Conclusions. The spatial-agrochemical approach proved effective in identifying key determinants of maize productivity. Using soil indicators (OM, CEC, pH, P₂O₅_Mach) for productivity zone mapping and VRS optimization is scientifically justified. VRS technology demonstrated agronomic efficiency and profitability under heterogeneous soil conditions in the studied enterprise.
References
2. AGRIVI. Variable Rate Technology: Everything You Need to Know. 2022. URL : https://www.agrivi.com/blog/variable-rate-technology/ (дата звернення: 31.03.2025).
3. Variable-rate in corn sowing for maximizing grain yield. Scientific Reports. Nature. URL : https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-92238-4 (дата звернення: 31.03.2025).
4. Variable Rate Seeding in Precision Agriculture: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives / E. Sarauskis et al. Agriculture. 2022. Vol. 12, no 2. P. 305. DOI: 10.3390/agriculture12020305
5. Corteva Agriscience. Putting Variable-Rate Seeding to Work on Your Farm. Pioneer Agronomy Articles. URL : https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/variable_rate_seeding.html (дата звернення: 31.03.2025).
6. Hanson E. NDSU Agriculture Communication. Spotlight on Economics: Economic Lessons From Precision Agriculture in N.D. URL : https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/columns/spotlight-on-economics/spotlight-on-economics-economic-lessons-from-precision-agriculture-in-n-d (дата звернення: 31.03.2025).
7. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers : 8th ed. / J. L. Havlin et al. Upper Saddle River : Pearson Education. 2013. 528 p.
8. Tabachnick B.G., Fidell L.S. 2013. Using multivariate statistics : 6th ed. Boston, MA : Pearson.
9. Lindsay W.L., Norvell W.A. Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 1978. Vol. 42(3). P. 421–428.
10. FAO. The future of food and agriculture – Drivers and triggers for transformation. Rome: FAO. 2022. URL : https://www.fao.org/3/cc1731en/cc1731en.pdf (дата звернення: 31.03.2025).
11. Breeding Maize for Tolerance to Acidic Soils: A Review / L.N. Tandzi et al. Agronomy. 2018. Vol. 8, no. 6. P. 84. DOI : 10.3390/agronomy8060084.
12. Sirisuntornlak N. et al. Interactive Effects of Silicon and Soil pH on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Maize. Silicon. 2021. Vol. 13(1). P. 289–299. DOI : 10.1007/ s12633-020-00427-z.
13. Goda D. A. et al. The optimization of calcareous soil cation exchange capacity via the feather hydrolysate and N-P fertilizers integration. Scientific Reports. 2025. Vol. 15. Article 4676. DOI : 10.1038/s41598-025-86941-9.
14. Can yield variability be explained? Integrated assessment of maize yield gaps across smallholders in Ghana / M.P. Van Loon et al. Field Crops Research. 2019. Vol. 236. P. 132–144. DOI : 10.1016/j.fcr.2019.03.022.
15. Kätterer T., Bolinder M.A. Response of maize yield to changes in soil organic matter in a Swedish long-term experiment. European Journal of Soil Science. 2024. Vol. 75, no. 2. Article e13482. DOI : 10.1111/ejss.13482.
16. Soil organic matter protects US maize yields and lowers crop insurance payouts under drought / D. A. Kane et al. Environmental Research Letters. 2021. Vol. 16(4). Article 044018. DOI : 10.1088/1748-9326/abe492.
17. Soil organic matter and maize yield responses under drought conditions in a long-term field trial in Sweden / T. Kätterer et al. Publications of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. 2024. ID: 129318. URL : https://publications.slu.se/?file=publ/show&id=129318
18. Soil Organic Carbon, Cation Exchange Capacity, and Maize (Zea mays) Response to Biochar and Nitrogen Fertilizer Amendments / M.O. Kareem et al. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports. 2025. Vol. 31, no. 5. P. 278–283. DOI : 10.9734/jsrr/2025/v31i53025.
19. Wierzbowska J., Sienkiewicz S., Światły A. Yield and Nitrogen Status of Maize Fertilized with Urea– Ammonium Nitrate Solution Enriched with P, Mg or S. Agronomy. 2022. Vol. 12(9). Article 2099. DOI : 10.3390/agronomy12092099.
20. Nitrogen Fertilizers Technologies for Corn in Two Yield Environments in South Brazil / B.M.A.R. Cassim et al. Plants. 2022. Vol. 11(14). Article 1890. DOI : 10.3390/ plants11141890.
21. Impact of Different Phosphorus Fertilizers on Yield under Wheat–Maize Rotation / C. Liang et al. Agronomy. 2024. Vol. 14(6). Article 1317. DOI : 10.3390/ agronomy14061317.
22. Effect of Long-Term Potassium Application on Crop Yield and K Use Efficiency in Maize-Wheat Rotation / B. He et al. Agronomy. 2022. Vol. 12(10). Article 2565. DOI : 10.3390/agronomy12102565.
23. Calcium Sprays Improve Yield and Grain Quality of Maize under Drought Stress / M. Abbas et al. Agriculture. 2021. Vol. 11(4). Article 285. DOI : 10.3390/agriculture11040285.
24. Influence of Calcium on Development of Corn in Hydroponics / V.C.M. Gatti et al. AgriEngineering. 2023. Vol. 5(1). P. 39. DOI : 10.3390/agriengineering5010039.
25. Magnesium Fertilization Improves Crop Yield in Most Production Systems: A Meta-Analysis / Z. Wang et al. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2020. Vol. 10. Article 1727. DOI : 10.3389/fpls.2019.01727.
26. Barłóg P., Frącowiak-Pawlak K. Effect of Potassium and Magnesium Fertilization on Maize Yield. Plant, Soil and Environment. 2008. Vol. 54(7). P. 303–311.
27. Sulfur Application Improves Nutritional Quality and Amino Acid Balance in Maize Grain / H. Wang et al. Agronomy. 2023. Vol. 13(12). Article 2912. DOI : 10.3390/agronomy13122912.
28. Corn Response to Sulfur Fertilization in Iowa / J.E. Sawyer et al. Better Crops. 2015. Vol. 99(3). P. 6–8.
29. Maize grain yield and grain zinc concentration response to zinc fertilization: A meta-analysis / D. Mutambu et al. Heliyon. 2023. Vol. 9(5). Article e16040. DOI : 10.1016/j. heliyon.2023.e16040.
30. Copper nanoparticle application enhances plant growth and grain yield in maize under drought stress conditions / D.V. Nguyen et al. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. 2022. Vol. 41. P. 364–375. DOI : 10.1007/s00344-021-10301-w.
31. Effect of Foliar Micronutrients (B, Mn, Fe, Zn) on Maize Grain Yield, Micronutrient Recovery, Uptake, and Partitioning / Z.P. Stewart et al. Plants. 2021. Vol. 10(3). Article 528. DOI : 10.3390/plants10030528.
32. Kaur G., Nelson K.A. Effect of foliar boron fertilization of fine textured soils on corn yields. Agronomy. 2015. Vol. 5(1). P. 1–18. DOI : 10.3390/agronomy5010001.
