Application of Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis to Maize Cultivated in Tropical Soils in Brazilian Semi-Arid

Abstract

Nutritional diagnosis, a technique used to maximize the economic yield of agricultural holdings and to protect the environment, is the focus of this study. Nutrient availability is one of the critical limiting factors in maize grain yield. The study, which aimed to establish and compare the nutritional standards obtained by the Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis (CND) method in maize grown in tropical soils in a semi-arid region, is based on a thorough examination of a database containing information from 198 experimental plots collected between 2011 and 2019 in the semi-arid region of Ceará, Brazil. The evaluation methodology was the multivariate CND calculation method. The mathematical models used to analyze the relationship between the nutrient’s CND-r2 index and leaf concentrations revealed coefficients of determination (R2) for nitrogen (N) and magnesium (Mg) of 0.36 and 0.66, respectively. The other values exceeded 70% (R2 ≥ 0.70), while phosphurus (P), calcium (Ca), cupper (Cu), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) showed values above 90% (R2 ≥ 0.90). These results not only highlight the high accuracy of these models in studying the interactions between nutrient coefficients and their leaf concentrations but also reassure the reader about the reliability of the research. The study’s thoroughness instills confidence in the research’s validity.