Effect of Nitrogen on Seed Sugar Content in White Corn (Zea Mays L.)

Author(s)

Dr. Fanson Kidwaro , Douglas Otieno Ndege , Dr. Rob Rhykerd , Dr. Michael Barrowclough ,

Download Full PDF Pages: 45-60 | Views: 11 | Downloads: 4 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17340615

Volume 9 - August 2025 (08)

Abstract

A study conducted at Illinois State University research farms in 2021 and 2022 examined the A study conducted at Illinois State University research farms in Lexington, IL, during 2021 and 2022 investigated the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on kernel sugar concentration, yield estimates, and grain mass in white corn (Zea mays L.). Using a randomized complete block design with two replications, nitrogen was applied as granular urea at rates of 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N/ha. The grain yield was measured by hand-harvesting and shelling 1/1000th acre per plot and expressed as percent dry matter. Results showed no statistically significant differences between the replicates across the two seasons for sugar concentration, yield estimates, or grain yields. However, yield estimates increased linearly with higher nitrogen application rates, peaking at 150 kg N/ha. The average yield estimate was 12,552 kg/ha in 2021 and slightly higher at 12,687 kg/ha in 2022. Grain yield in 2022 exceeded that of 2021 by 844.1 kg. Nitrogen application also affected seed sugar content at all three milking stages. The findings suggest that nitrogen fertilization improves white corn yield and sugar concentration, but further research is needed to explore whether higher nitrogen levels maintain this linear trend. Additional studies should examine the moderating effects of weather conditions and soil moisture on nitrogen's impact on seed sugar content.

Keywords

Sugar concentration, White Corn, Brix %, Refractometer, Nitrogen, Yield estimate, Grain yield, Kernels, Fudge factor.

References

Erenstein, O., Jaleta, M., Sonder, K.,

Mottaleb, K., & Prasanna, B. M. (2022). Global maize production, consumption, and trade: trends and R&D implications. Food Security, 1-25.

Gheith, E., El-Badry, O. Z., Lamlom, S. F.,

Ali, H. M., Siddiqui, M. H., Ghareeb, R. Y., El-Sheikh, M. H., Jebril, J., Abdelsalam, N. R., & Kandil, E. E. (2022). Maize (Zea mays L.) Productivity and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Response to Nitrogen Application Levels and Time. Frontiers in plant science, 13, 941343.

Jusoh, N., Ahmad, A., & Tengah, R. Y.

(2019). Evaluation of nutritive values and consumer acceptance of sweet corn (Zea mays) juice as a recovery beverage for exercising people. Malays. J. Fundam. Appl. Sci, 15, 504-507.

Khan, A., Tan, D. K. Y., Afridi, M. Z., Luo,

H., Tung, S. A., Ajab, M., & Fahad, S. (2017). Nitrogen fertility and abiotic stresses management in cotton crop: a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 14551-14566.

Lao, Y. X., Yu, Y. Y., Li, G. K., Chen, S. Y.,

Li, W., Xing, X. P., & Guo, X. B. (2019). Effect of Sweet Corn Residue on Micronutrient Fortification in Baked Cakes. Foods, 8(7), 260.

Malvar, R. A., Revilla, P., Moreno‐González,

J., Butrón, A., Sotelo, J., & Ordás, A. (2008). White maize: genetics of quality and agronomic performance. Crop science, 48(4), 1373-1381.

Merrill, W. L., Hard, R. J., Mabry, J. B., Fritz,

G. J., Adams, K. R., Roney, J. R., &

MacWilliams, A.C. (2009). The diffusion of maize to the southwestern United States and its impact. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(50), 21019-21026.

Pan-in, S., & Sukasem, N. (2017). Methane

production potential from anaerobic co-digestions of different animal dungs and sweet corn residuals. Energy Procedia, 138, 943-948.

Pruitt, J. D. (2016). A brief history of corn:

looking back to move forward. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Revilla, P., Anibas, C. M., & Tracy, W. F.

(2021). Sweet corn research around the world 2015–2020. Agronomy, 11(3), 534.

Sharma, A., Wuebbles, D. J., & Kotamarthi,

R. (2021). The need for urban‐resolving climate modeling across scales. AGU Advances, 2(1), e2020AV000271.

Sinclair, T. R., & Jafarikouhini, N.,

Kazemeini, S. A. (2020). Sweet Corn Ontogeny in Response to Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization. Journal of Horticulture and Plant Research, 23.

Singh, I., Langyan, S., & Yadava, P. (2014).

Sweet corn and corn-based sweeteners. Sugar tech, 16(2), 144-149.

Omar, S., Abd Ghani, R., Khaeim, H., Sghaier, A.H., & Jolánkai, M. (2022). The effect of nitrogen fertilisation on yield and quality of maize (Zea mays L.). Acta Alimentaria, 51(2). https://doi.org/10.1556/066.2022.00022

Ray, K., Banerjee, H., Dutta, S., Hazra, A. K., & Majumdar, K. (2019). Macronutrients influence yield and oil quality of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). PloS one, 14(5), e0216939. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216939

Reddy, V. R., Seshu, G., Jabeen, F., & Rao,

A. S. (2012). Speciality corn types with reference to quality protein Maize (Zea mays L.)-A review. International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology, 5(4), 393-400.

Wang, N., Fu, F., Wang, H., Wang, P., He, S., Shao, H., Ni, Z., & Zhang, X. (2021). Effects of irrigation and nitrogen on chlorophyll content, dry matter and nitrogen accumulation in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Scientific Reports 11, 16651. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95792-z

Wu, Y., Zhao, B., Li, Q., Kong, F., Du, L.,

Zhou, F., Shi, H., Ke, Y., Liu, Q., Feng, D., & Yuan, J. (2019). Non-structural carbohydrates in maize with different nitrogen tolerance are affected by nitrogen addition. PloS one, 14(12), e0225753. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225753

Yue, K., Li, L., Xie, J., Liu, Y., Xie, J., Anwar, S. & Fudjoe, S. K. (2022). Nitrogen supply affects yield and grain filling of maize by regulating starch metabolizing enzyme activities and endogenous hormone contents. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 798119. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.798119

Zhou, X., Ouyang, Z., Zhang, X., Wei, Y.,

Tang, S., Ma, Z., & Han, X. (2019). Sweet corn stalk treated with saccharomyces cerevisiae alone or in combination with lactobacillus plantarum: Nutritional    composition, fermentation     traits     and     aerobic stability. Animals, 9(9), 598.

Cite this Article: