CAN MAIZE CULTIVARS WITH LOW MINERAL NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS IN THE GRAINS HELP TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR FERTILIZERS IN THIRD-WORLD COUNTRIES

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-degrees-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.