MINERAL ACCUMULATION IN CORN

Abstract

The 3 mineral elements reported here entered the corn plant and moved from tissue to tissue independently of one another. N accumulation in the corn plant reached a maximum at silking time and ceased about 4 weeks later in the season studied. N moved into the grain from other tissues until maturity. P accumulation did not cease until about maturity. P also moved into the grain from other tissues. K accumulation reached a maximum about 3 weeks after silking. There was an actual loss of K after that time, largely from the leaves and stems of the plant. No marked accumulation of K occurred in the grain.