Evaluation of Micronutrient Application for Improving Growth, Development, Yield Components, Grain Yield, and Overall Productivity of Maize Crop

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop widely cultivated for food, feed, industrial raw materials, and bioenergy. Achieving higher and sustainable maize productivity requires balanced plant nutrition, including an adequate supply of essential micronutrients. Micronutrients such as zinc, iron, manganese, boron, copper, and molybdenum are required in small quantities but play critical roles in enzymatic activity, photosynthesis, chlorophyll formation, nutrient metabolism, reproductive development, and grain formation. Their deficiencies can adversely affect plant growth, physiological processes, yield components, grain yield, and grain nutritional quality. This review evaluates the role of micronutrient application in improving maize growth, development, yield components, grain yield, and overall productivity. Particular emphasis is given to the physiological functions of major micronutrients, their uptake and utilization, and their effects on seedling establishment, root development, plant height, leaf area, biomass accumulation, photosynthetic activity, cob development, grain number, kernel weight, and harvest index. Different application strategies, including soil application, foliar feeding, seed priming, fertilizer-based supplementation, and integrated nutrient management, are also discussed. The review highlights that micronutrient responses are influenced by soil characteristics, nutrient availability, environmental conditions, application method, dosage, genotype, and interactions with macronutrients. In addition, agronomic biofortification and genetic approaches provide opportunities to enhance the micronutrient concentration and nutritional quality of maize grain. Sustainable and site-specific micronutrient management can therefore contribute to improved crop productivity while addressing hidden micronutrient deficiencies in human diets. Future research should focus on precision nutrient management, efficient micronutrient formulations, genotype-specific responses, biofortification, and environmentally sustainable application technologies to develop productive and nutritionally superior maize production systems.