Corn(as known as Maize) is one of the most common crops in our lives. Many farmers choose to grow corn as their first cash crop.
Hello! Dear farmers or agricultural enthusiasts, this is an article about corn planting. I will share some corn planting knowledge and some personal tips here.
Who is this article suitable for? New farmers and farmers without scientific planting experience
In this guide you will learn:
How to choose the corn (maize) seeds?
How to do soil preparation?
What is the corn seed planting and sowing Techniques?
What is the water and fertilizer management for the corn growth?
How to do weeding and pest control?
What is the top disease of corn seeds and how to do prevention?
The growth regulation and chemical control of corn.
How to do post-harvest handling and storage?
As global demand for corn climbs, farmers are seeking for ways to boost crop yields while reducing disease. Achieving high yields in corn farming requires more than just planting. It requires understanding soil preparation, selecting proper seeds, fertilizing
efficiently, and managing with pests and diseases. This article will walk you through the steps necessary for a healthy, high-yield corn harvest while mitigating the effects of common diseases.
Corn Seed Selection: Choosing the Best Varieties for Your Region
The foundation of a high-yield corn crop begins with selecting the right corn seed variety. It's essential to choose varieties suited to your region's climate and soil conditions, as well as those that offer resistance to common pests and diseases.
Climate adaptation: Choose flood-resistant types in areas with heavy rainfall. In drought-prone areas, seek out drought-resistant cultivars.
Pest Resistance: Some types are designed to withstand pests such as maize borers and rootworms.
Disease Resistance: Select cultivars that are resistant to common diseases such as maize blight and Fusarium.
Before planting, make secondary seed selections. Discard any seeds that are too tiny, pest-damaged, or misshapen. Consider sun-drying seeds for 48 hours to minimize moisture and promote germination. Soaking seeds in lukewarm water for 12 hours, followed by 8-10 hours in warm water (about 45°C), increases germination rates.
Tip: Always purchase seeds from trustworthy providers to ensure good germination rates and disease resistance.
Soil Preparation: Achieving the Best Conditions for Corn Growth Bed
Just like a bed for a baby, the soil is the bed where the seed grows. Soil health is essential for producing a high yield. Proper soil preparation promotes healthy root development, water retention, and nutrient absorption.
Soil Testing: Before planting, test the soil for pH and nutrient levels. Corn thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH 5.8-7.0). Deep tilling to a depth of 30-35 cm (12-14 inches) will improve soil aeration and water retention.
Soil Fertilization: Use a balanced fertilizer depending on soil test results. To maximize corn growth, apply approximately:
225 kg of potassium per hectare
90 to 120 kg of phosphorus per hectare
450 kg of compound fertilizer per hectare
Tip: Adding organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure will improve soil structure and fertility.
When to Sow Corn Seeds: Correct planting time ensures proper seed growth
Corn is a thermophilic crop, which requires a relatively high temperature during its development cycle. The physiologically effective temperature for corn is 10°C. Seed germination needs 6-10°C; germination is sluggish below 10°C; germination is strong between 16-21°C; the optimal germination temperature is 28-35°C; and germination ceases beyond 40°C.
410-640mm of precipitation is ideal for corn development, while dryness has an impact on production and quality. It is widely considered that locations with less than 150mm of rainfall in the summer are unsuitable for growing maize, and that excessive precipitation reduces light, increases disease, and hinders corn production and quality development.
If you are unsure when it is acceptable to grow corn in your location, please refer to the table below. Obviously, this data is based on the climate of the northern hemisphere. If you reside in the southern hemisphere (New Zealand, Australia, etc.), please consider this table in reverse.
Planting and Sowing Techniques Timing for optimum growth
Correct planting is critical for improving corn yields. Here's how to plant for success.
Ideal Planting Time: Plant corn when the soil temperature continuously exceeds 10°C (50°F). Planting too early or too late might cause poor germination and yield loss.
Row Spacing and Depth: For best plant development, place your rows 80-85 cm apart, with 30-35 cm between plants. Plant seeds 4-6 cm deep to allow enough moisture retention.
Regular spacing: Mechanical planting involves using mechanical equipment to ensure consistent seed dispersion and proper row spacing.
Tip: In addition to considering plant spacing, it is also important to pay attention to the setting of planting density. When establishing planting density, make sure that plants have enough air and sunshine. Overcrowding can create shade, lowering solar exposure and severely affecting plant development, resulting in decreased quality and production. Planting density should be varied depending on corn type and soil quality. For sparse types, the optimal density is 2800-3500 plants per 667 m², whereas dense variants should have 4400-5000 plants per 667 m². In fertile locations, a density of 4500-5000 plants per 667 m² is appropriate, while in inferior soils, lower the density by around 500 plants. Planting too tightly might produce in smaller ears, more stems, and even empty stalks, which reduces production.
A good seeding machine can help you sow corn more efficiently, and Haudin's push seeder can easily achieve accurate and equidistant seeding at the same depth. In addition, the planting depth (2/4/6.5/9cm) and the planting distance can be adjusted at will.
Water and Fertilizer Management: Promoting Healthy Corn Growth
Proper irrigation and fertilizer control are critical to corn health. During the early stages, the crop need enough water to form roots, and as the plants get higher, nutrient control becomes critical.
Irrigation:Maintain regular hydration, especially when tasseling and silking. Inadequate water supply at these phases might have a negative impact on kernel development and yield.
Fertilization: Use nitrogen-rich fertilizers, such as urea or ammonium nitrate, at critical development phases to support robust stalks and ears.
Balanced Fertilizer Application: During the vegetative stage, apply a balanced mixture of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. During tasseling and silking, concentrate on nitrogen and potassium to promote kernel development.
Tip: If irrigation is required, consider drip irrigation or center-pivot irrigation systems to ensure continuous hydration without overwatering. Fertilization is critical during the jointing and booting processes. During jointing, use 150 kg/hm² of urea and 225 kg/hm² of ammonium nitrate to promote branch and spikelet differentiation. To maintain ear fullness and prevent spikelet size degeneration, use 50 kg/hm² of urea and 110 kg/hm² of ammonium nitrate during the booting process. Proper topdressing throughout these times is critical for achieving excellent yields.
Huadin's 2-in-1 push seeder can sow and fertilize at the same time, achieving high-efficiency sowing work. No need for secondary fertilization, tedious agricultural work can be completed in one go.
Weeding and Pest Control: reducing competition and damage
Weeds and pests are the two primary causes of reduced maize yields. Early intervention is critical.
Weeding: Weed the field the area on a regular basis can help decrease competition for water and nutrients. Cultivate the soil to a depth of 3-5 cm to eradicate weeds without harming the corn plants.
Pest Control: Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to eliminate pests. Begin by scouting for common pests such as corn borers, cutworms, and rootworm. Apply biological controls or, if required, chemical insecticides. To prevent crop damage, always follow the manufacturer's directions.
Tip: The growth of weeds in the field will compete for the plants' absorption of light and nutrients, and may even affect field ventilation. In particular, some weeds are also hosts for diseases. Strengthening weed control can ensure plant growth. To avoid serious crop loss, monitor your corn plants on a regular basis and address insect issues promptly. Haudin's Wheel Hoecan help you manage your farmland easily. A variety of weeding accessories can be replaced to meet the daily weeding needs of small farmland.
Disease Prevention: Keeping Your Crop Healthy
Corn diseases such as blight, smut, and fusarium can significantly reduce yields. Preventing these illnesses is critical to having a successful crop.
Fungal Diseases: To avoid diseases such as corn rust and gray leaf spot, use fungicides early in the vegetative stage. For best results, use during periods of high humidity.
Root Rot: To avoid root rot and other soil-borne illnesses, do not grow corn in poorly drained soils.
Growth Regulation and Chemical Control: Improving Corn Structure
Growth regulators can assist regulate the plant's height, making it more resistant to wind damage.
Chemical Growth Regulators: Use growth regulators during the 6-8 leaf stage to prevent excessive plant height and promote stronger ear development. This will assist to keep plants from becoming too tall and prone to lodging.
Optimal timing: Avoid using growth regulators too early (when the plant is still too weak) or too late (when the plant has matured).
Tip: Before determining whether or not to use chemical growth regulators, closely examine the plant's height and development.
Harvesting: Timing and Techniques for Maximum Yield
Harvesting at the appropriate time guarantees that your corn reaches its maximum potential.
Optimal Harvest Time: Corn should be picked when the kernels reach physiological maturity, which typically happens when the moisture level is between 20 and 25%.
Harvesting Equipment: Combine harvesters are ideal for vast fields. Make sure the corn is fully mature and the kernels are solid.
Tip: Harvest in the early morning to guarantee ideal moisture levels for storage while avoiding heat and insect damage. After using modern technology to grow corn, growers must also clarify the different periods of late harvest and understand different time nodes, such as the full maturity stage, waxy maturity stage, and milky maturity stage. When corn grows to the full maturity stage, the external grains will be fuller, and both the quality and volume are in the best condition. If harvested at this stage, the planting benefits can be significantly improved.
Post-Harvest Handling and Storage: Preserving Quality
After harvesting, appropriate management guarantees that your corn remains fresh and high-quality
Drying: Corn should be dried to a moisture content of around 15% to avoid mold and spoiling. Use grain dryers or let the corn air dry in a well-ventilated location.
Storage: Corn should be stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated environment to avoid mold and pests. The storage temperature for corn should be maintained between 10°C and 15°C (50°F - 59°F) and humidity should be kept between 50% and 60%.
Tip: Regularly inspect stored corn for insect infestations and mold growth, especially in humid locations. For someone wants to do long-term storage, it is recommended to store corn in low oxygen environments to slow down spoilage. Specialized vacuum-packed storage or controlled atmosphere (CA) storage systems can be used to extend the shelf life significantly, especially for high-value corn used for seed production or other premium markets.
Final thoughts: Achieving a High Yield through Effective Management
Having seen this, I hope my experience can be helpful to you, and you can avoid some common problems according to my article. Improving corn production necessitates a combination of good seed selection, soil preparation, fertilization, and disease and insect control. Farmers that follow these step-by-step strategies may greatly increase the number and quality of their corn harvests, fulfilling worldwide demand while preserving a sustainable agricultural practice.
We are Haudin, a manufacturer specializing in the manufacture of small agricultural equipment.The equipment we produce is easy to learn, easy to use and highly efficient.
Taizhou Haoding Import and Export Co., Ltd. is situated in the picturesque coastal city of Taizhou, Zhejiang. We specialize in the production and trade of agricultural machinery.
