Interação entre Nitrogênio e Potássio na Modulação da Produtividade e Qualidade Físico-Química de Espigas de Milho Verde

Modulação da Qualidade do Milho Verde

Abstract

This study evaluated the combined effects of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilization on morphological, productive, and physicochemical traits of green maize ears using a factorial design. Balanced N×K combinations significantly increased ear length and diameter, ear weight, grain number, and grain mass, indicating enhanced reproductive efficiency. Chemical attributes, including pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, starch, and total carotenoids, were also modulated by mineral nutrition, reflecting metabolic adjustments linked to nutrient availability. Multivariate analyses (hierarchical clustering, PCA, and Pearson correlation) revealed strong interdependence among productivity, chemical composition, and reserve accumulation, enabling discrimination of treatments with superior agronomic performance and technological quality. The findings demonstrate that optimized N and K management simultaneously improves yield and grain quality, providing robust scientific evidence for more efficient and sustainable fertilization strategies in green maize production systems. These results highlight the integrated role of macronutrient balance in shaping productive and nutritional profiles of maize ears.