What to Do If Corn Suffers Herbicide Damage? A Detailed Guide to Rescue Methods

During the growth period, corn needs various pesticides sprayed to control pests and diseases, but if the pesticides are used improperly, herbicide damage can easily occur. So what are the rescue methods for corn herbicide damage?

Method 1: Loosen the soil and water

For herbicide damage caused by excessive doses of soil-applied herbicides, the damage can be alleviated by intertillage, continuous flooding and drainage of the field, and repeated flushing. A certain amount of lime powder can also be applied when watering to neutralize acidic herbicides, thereby washing away and discharging the residual chemicals and reducing the amount of herbicide residue in the soil. At the same time, strengthen field management to enhance the resistance of corn.

Method 2: Strengthen field management

For corn fields with herbicide damage, management should be strengthened. Along with watering, increase the application of quick-acting fertilizers such as decomposed human and livestock manure and urine, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium nitrate, and urea to promote root development and regeneration, restore the physiological functions of the damaged corn, and promote healthy crop growth, so as to reduce the harm of herbicide damage to crops. Strengthen intertillage and soil loosening to break up soil compaction, enhance soil permeability, raise soil temperature, promote the activity of beneficial microorganisms, accelerate the decomposition of soil nutrients, and enhance the roots' ability to absorb nutrients and water, so that the plants can resume growth and development as soon as possible and the losses caused by herbicide damage can be reduced. At the same time, 1%-2% urea or 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can also be sprayed on the leaves to promote crop growth and development and restore growth as soon as possible.

Method 3: Spray plant growth regulators or antidotes specific to different herbicides

Plant growth regulators have a very good stimulating effect on the growth and development of corn. At the same time, micro-fertilizers such as zinc, iron, and aluminum and foliar fertilizers can also be used to promote crop growth and effectively reduce herbicide damage. Commonly used plant growth regulators include gibberellic acid, brassinolide, and sodium nitrophenolate.

Herbicide antidotes can reduce or counteract the toxicity of herbicides to crops. For example, tea formulation is a selective seed-dressing protective agent that can be absorbed by seeds and inhibit the damage of herbicides in roots and leaves. Such agents can protect corn from damage by herbicides such as acetochlor, butachlor, and metolachlor.

Method 4: Timely remedial replanting and reseeding

For severe herbicide damage, after identifying the cause, targeted remedial measures should be taken as soon as possible. If there is no remedy for severe herbicide damage, replanting or reseeding should be carried out promptly to make up for the losses.