CONSULAI, responsible for WP5, reunited the Maize CNC and the Portuguese NEG on April 11th during the Maize Open Day, organized in partnership with ANPROMIS. The event took place in Coruche, Portugal, a region well known for its maize production.
With over 250 participants, the day featured several presentations related to cover crops in maize cultivation. Beatriz Cardoso, facilitator of both the CNCs and the NEG, presented the NUTRI-CHECK NET project to the audience. She introduced the three-step checking approach for crop fertilization:
- Planning – where the amount and timing of nutrient application are defined before the purchase of fertilisers.
- Monitoring and Adjustment – where the fertilisation plan is adapted according to the crop’s real-time nutrient needs.
- Review – where results are analysed to refine next season’s fertilisation strategy.
To illustrate these phases, Beatriz showcased several tools used throughout the fertilisation process:
- For monitoring: NDVI Satellite Imagery, Yara N-Tester, Leaf Analysis, and Farm Tracking Platforms.
- For review: Grain Analysis, comparing nutrient content against standard values to guide improvements for the following season.
The morning concluded with a field visit to experimental plots managed by InovMilho, together with all partners involved in seed and fertilization trials.
It was a remarkable networking event that successfully brought together farmers, advisors, and academia, fostering dialogue and collaboration for more sustainable maize production.
