grain maize fertiliser and yield calculator
A tonne of grain maize removes about 15 kg of nitrogen, 6.5 kg of phosphate and 4.5 kg of potash from the field. Replacing offtake is the starting point for any nutrient plan. Maize is sown by seed count rather than weight in most systems.
- Phosphate product rate
- 155.4 kg/ha
- Potash product rate
- 82.5 kg/ha
- Nitrogen removed by the crop
- 165.0 kg N/ha
- Phosphate removed
- 71.5 kg P2O5/ha
- Potash removed
- 49.5 kg K2O/ha
- Nitrogen product for the whole area
- 27.329 tonnes
- Phosphate product total
- 6.217 tonnes
- Potash product total
- 3.300 tonnes
- Seed for the whole area
- 1.000 tonnes
- Expected harvest
- 440.0 tonnes
- Applied nitrogen per tonne of yield
- 21.43 kg/t
Show the working
- Area = 40
- Target yield = 11
- Nitrogen content of your product = 34.5
- Phosphate content = 46
- Potash content = 60
- Nutrient use efficiency = 70
- Seed rate = 25
- Expected harvest = 11 * 40 = 440
- Nitrogen removed by the crop = 11 * 15 = 165
- Phosphate removed = 11 * 6.5 = 71.5
- Potash removed = 11 * 4.5 = 49.5
- n_applied = 165 / (70/100) = 235.714
- Nitrogen product rate = 235.714 / (34.5/100) = 683.23
- Phosphate product rate = 71.5 / (46/100) = 155.435
- Potash product rate = 49.5 / (60/100) = 82.5
- Nitrogen product for the whole area = 683.23 * 40 / 1000 = 27.3292
- Phosphate product total = 155.435 * 40 / 1000 = 6.217 39
- Potash product total = 82.5 * 40 / 1000 = 3.3
- Seed for the whole area = 25 * 40 / 1000 = 1
- Applied nitrogen per tonne of yield = 11 > 0 ? 235.714 / 11 : 0 = 21.4286
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- nutrient removed = yield x removal rate per tonne
- product rate = nutrient required / nutrient content of the product
- nitrogen is adjusted for use efficiency because losses are unavoidable
Removal rates are typical published figures and vary with variety, season and whether the straw or residue is taken off.
This replaces what the crop takes. A proper plan also accounts for soil indices, manure history and any legume in the rotation.
Phosphate and potash build or deplete a soil reserve rather than being used in-season, so a below-index soil needs more than removal.
Maize is sown by seed count rather than weight in most systems.
grain maize nutrient removal
| Nutrient | Per tonne of crop | At 11 t/ha |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | 15 kg | 165 kg/ha |
| Phosphate (P2O5) | 6.5 kg | 72 kg/ha |
| Potash (K2O) | 4.5 kg | 50 kg/ha |
Frequently asked
How much nitrogen does grain maize need?
It removes about 15 kg of N per tonne of crop, so a 11 t/ha crop takes off roughly 165 kg/ha. Applied rates are higher because not all of it is taken up.
Where the numbers come from
- Nutrient removal figures follow the usual published offtake tables; check against local recommendations.