DYNAMICS OF MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF CORN PLANTS AT THE INITIAL STAGES OF GROWTH UNDER DIFFERENT TYPES OF FERTILIZERS

Abstract

This article presents the results of effects different types of fertilizers–urea, granular complex fertilizers, and liquid complex (starter) fertilizers (LCF)–on the morphological and biochemical parameters of maize plants during the early stages of growth. The relevance of the study is driven by the need to adapt fertilization technologies to climate change, particularly temperature fluctuations, moisture deficits, and reduced nutrient availability from traditional granular fertilizers.  The experiment was conducted in vegetation vessels under optimal temperature and sufficient moisture conditions, allowing for the evaluation of fertilizer effectiveness in a favorable environment. It was found that the combination of granular fertilizers with LCF had the most positive impact on morphological traits (plant height, root system development, vegetative biomass) and biochemical indicators (catalase activity, germination energy). The separate application of urea or NPK fertilizers proved less effective compared to their combined use. Meanwhile, under optimal conditions, the application of LCF alone did not significantly improve plant parameters, indicating a limited role of liquid fertilizers in favorable environments. It is expected that the effectiveness of LCF will be more pronounced under stress conditions–low temperatures, moisture deficiency, and on light sandy soils where phosphorus availability from granules is limited. The results confirm the importance of an adaptive approach to fertilizer selection based on soil and climatic conditions, which is practically significant for optimizing maize cultivation technologies.