The amount of light a summer maize plant receives from flowering to maturity affects how much it grows and absorbs nutrients. When shaded, the plant's yield, growth, and nutrient absorption decrease. But when given more light, these factors increase. Shading reduced yields by up to 79%, while more light increased yields by up to 16%. Nutrient absorption increased after more light, especially for nitrogen and phosphorus. Overall, more light leads to better growth and nutrient absorption in summer maize plants.