A soil tillage system adjusted to the soil type and agro-ecological conditions, together with the optimal nutrient supply, is a prerequisite for high maize (Zea mays L.) yield. However, there is little knowledge about the influence of soil tillage and nitrogen (N) rates on maize grain quality. A study was initiated in 1978 in Zemun Polje, Belgrade, Serbia, on the chernozem soil type. The effects of three N rates—0, 180 and 240 kg N ha−1—within three tillage practices—no-tillage, reduced and conventional tillage—and their influence on grain yield (GY) and the content of proteins, starch, oil, total tocopherols and carotenoids, phytic phosphorus (Phy), glutathione (GSH), phenols and inorganic P (Pi) in maize grain were analysed in the period 2016–2018. Differences in maize GY were 2.57 and 3.01 t ha−1 for reduced- or no-tillage, respectively, in comparison to conventional tillage. Conventional tillage and higher N rates contributed to the increase in maize yield and the grain nutritional quality with regard to the increased level of proteins, GSH and Phy. On the other hand reduced inputs were beneficial only for grain quality, in relation to the increase in tocopherols and phenols.

The successful production of soybeans is largely dependent on the sowing time, because every sowing outside the optimal time contributes significantly to yield losses. This field study aimed to evaluate the effects of sowing time (optimal—April 5; late—April 27) on the quantitative and quality traits of three soybean genotypes (Galina—0 maturity group; Sava—I maturity group; and Rubin—II maturity group) under dryland conditions in Vojvodina Province (Serbia) during 2017 and 2018. The genotype Sava had higher yield in climatic-unfavorable 2017, while Rubin had a higher yield in climatic-favorable 2018. The yields significantly decreased when the soybeans were sown in late April due to reductions in the number of pods per plant, seed weight per plant, and 1000-seed weight. The reduction in yield components was likely due to the accelerated senescence of plants and the negative effect of high temperature and low precipitation during the seed filling stage. Accordingly, the various sowing times and properly chosen genotypes provide a better utilization of soil and water resources. A proper genotype selection and sowing time can contribute to a high yield. At the same time, the protein and oil contents can be altered by the sowing time, especially under water stress during the reproductive stage.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of two foliar fertilizers applied on five maize (Zea mays L.) lines. Fertilizers were applied at different growth stages of maize, during three consecutive years (2010–2012) at the experimental field of the Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Serbia. Maize growth parameters such as fresh matter, height, leaf area and grain yield were recorded. Foliar fertilizer with amino acids (FAA) was more advantageous to maize plants compared to fertilizer containing phosphorus (FP) as a main component. Applied FAA has shown positive effects by increasing fresh matter, leaf area index, and plant height in all three years. In 2012, due to unfavorable meteorological conditions, grain yield and harvest index were very low, compared to the previous two years, although, positive effects on morphological traits were observed 21 days after treatments (DAT), as well as in the anthesis stage. The best results of 30% of grain yield and harvest index increase were recorded in line L1 in 2010 and 2011. The same line had an increase of more than 40% of fresh matter and leaf area on average for all three years. The positive effects that have been noticed in this research could recommend foliar fertilizing with fertilizer containing N in a form of an amino acids complex.

Intensive weed management is required to meet the growing demands of sweet maize production. Herbicide application is inevitable in sweet maize production, while foliar fertilizer is commonly used in cropping in order to improve crop yield and quality. The effect of nicosulfuron and mesotrione, with and without foliar fertilizer, on the content of phytochemicals (i.e. carotenoids, tocopherols and free phenolic acids) in the kernels of three sweet maize hybrids was evaluated. Herbicides applied alone mainly improved the nutritive profile of the sweet maize kernel. The application of herbicides in combination with foliar fertilizer showed a high variability in the concentration of carotenoids, tocopherols and free phenolic acids. The significant change in the content of phytochemicals was induced by the applied treatments, but it is also genotype-dependent, which was also confirmed by the Principal Component Analysis.

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