Waxy and Sweet Corn Fertilization Program

In Cambodia, as in most developing countries, corn is used primarily for animal feed or in making flour, but selected hybrid and improved varieties have been introduced for fresh consumption. The growing cycle for corn used in grain production is 120 days, while the growing cycle for corn that will be used as corn on the cob is 65 to 75 days after seeding. Soil management is crucial for corn growth, as nutrients are absorbed through the root system. To ensure a healthy root system, good soil preparation is required before seeding. This involves ploughing the soil several times until it is loose and preparing raised beds with a height of 30 cm, a width of 1.0 meter, and a distance between beds of 1.5 meters. A soil analysis is advisable to check phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and zinc levels, as well as soil pH and organic matter content. Corn requires five basic elements for growth: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium. These elements are necessary for maximum plant development and optimum corn yields. Other elements that may be necessary include Boron, Sulfur, and Zinc. The most common fertilizers in commercial agriculture in Cambodia are granular formulas, including Urea, KCl, and DAP. However, finding sources of Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur may be difficult, and these nutrients may need to be applied separately. The recommended amount of fertilizers for sweet corn is shown in a table, which outlines the amount of each fertilizer needed per plant per week. The fertilizers should be mixed in 200 liters of water and applied to each plant, with Calcium applied separately on another day of the week. Irrigation is necessary after fertilizing to ensure the fertilizer reaches the root zone. Fertilizing should continue until the last week prior to harvest, as this is a critical period for corn kernel development.