Key Field Management Techniques for Corn: Three Major Stages You Must Not Overlook

Mastering the field management techniques for corn can greatly increase corn yields. What are the key field management techniques for corn? Let me give you a brief introduction below.

I. Seedling stage management (emergence to jointing)

The seedling stage refers to the period from emergence to jointing, during which root, stem and leaf growth predominates. Management during this period is mainly to ensure the density of the seedlings and whether the seedlings are uniform, even and robust.

1. Inspect the field and fill in gaps

Factors such as seed quality and soil quality may result in planted seedlings of varying degrees of smallness, weakness, disease or insect damage. At this time, you need to frequently inspect the corn field so that problems with the seedlings can be discovered in time, and problems must be dealt with promptly once found.

2. Thin and finalize seedlings at the right time

Thinning should be carried out at the three-leaf stage. Remove weak seedlings and keep strong ones; remove off-type seedlings and keep uniform, evenly colored ones; remove diseased seedlings and keep healthy ones. If thinning is not done in time, the plants will be overly crowded as they grow, sunlight will not reach them sufficiently, and both water and nutrients will be inadequate, which leads to poor seedling growth.

II. Field management at the ear stage (mid-season management)

The ear stage refers to the period from jointing to tasseling, when stems and leaves grow vigorously and ear differentiation begins, with vegetative growth and reproductive growth proceeding at the same time. This is an important period for corn field management, mainly aimed at promoting strong stalks and large ears.

1. Cultivating and earthing up

Cultivation loosens the soil, improves air circulation, promotes root development, prevents lodging, facilitates drainage and irrigation, and buries weeds, creating good conditions for corn growth. During the seedling stage, cultivation is generally carried out three times: the first when the seedlings have 4 to 5 leaves, to a depth of 3 to 5 cm; the second when the seedlings are about 30 cm tall, generally to a depth of 7 to 8 cm; and the third before jointing, to a depth of 5 to 6 cm.

2. Apply topdressing in appropriate amounts

At the large trumpet stage, topdressing can be applied in appropriate amounts, mainly to meet the fertilizer and water needs of ear differentiation, increase the photosynthetic productivity of the middle and upper leaves, and deliver more nutrients to the ear, promoting larger ears with more kernels. Per mu, 20 to 25 kg of urea and 5 to 10 kg of potash fertilizer can be applied.

III. Management at the flowering and kernel stage (late-season management)

The flowering and kernel stage refers to the period from tasseling to corn maturity. During this period, vegetative growth stops and kernel development becomes the focus. Management at this time is aimed at ensuring pollination and fertilization, promoting kernel filling and preventing premature senescence.

1. Drain waterlogged fields in time

If corn encounters frequent rain during growth and standing water in the field does not recede, the soil will lack oxygen, which affects plant growth and makes plants prone to falling over, affecting photosynthesis, so waterlogged fields must be drained in time.

2. Detasseling and pollination

Detasseling should be carried out at the tasseling stage, removing tassels from 1 to 2 rows out of every 1 to 2 rows. Border rows, mountain fields and small plots must not be detasseled, and leaves must not be removed along with the tassels, otherwise yields will be reduced.

Corn is an important food crop and feed crop, and also the crop with the highest total production in the world. Only by mastering corn field management techniques and planting corn scientifically can you get twice the result with half the effort.