What to Do About Poor Kernel Set in Corn? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Preventive Measures
During corn cultivation, poor kernel set often occurs. This phenomenon seriously affects corn yield and quality and brings huge losses to farmers. Therefore, to protect farmers' interests, preventive measures against poor kernel set must be carried out well. Now let's take a look together with the editor.
1. Choose good seed
Corn has a certain regional adaptability to soil, environment and cultivation conditions, so if a variety is not suitable for local planting, poor kernel set will occur. Therefore, when planting, choose excellent quality varieties with strong stress resistance and high yield according to the local soil, climate and cultivation conditions to reduce poor kernel set.
2. Sow early at the right time
Corn tassels in high-temperature weather. High temperatures reduce its pollen vigor and make pollination quality poorer, so when sowing, sow early at the right time so that the tasseling period of corn avoids high-temperature weather and pollination occurs under suitable climate conditions. At the same time, according to the varietal characteristics of corn, plant at a reasonable density to enhance field ventilation and light penetration, improve leaf photosynthesis, increase nutrients for the ear, promote ear differentiation and improve the kernel set rate.
3. Detasseling
The female ear of corn is produced from axillary buds, so it grows weakly and differentiates later, while the tassel is developed from the terminal bud, grows strongly and differentiates earlier. Therefore, when the external environment is unsuitable, uneven nutrient uptake by the male and female ears occurs, and the tassel inhibits the growth of the female ear, leading to poor kernel set in corn. So during the tasseling stage of corn, detassel appropriately to reduce the apical dominance of corn, promote the growth and development of the female ear, and at the same time combine it with artificial pollination to improve the kernel set rate.
4. Strengthen fertilizer and water management
When fertilizer and water are insufficient, corn's kernel set rate is also affected. Therefore, during the tasseling stage, if drought weather occurs, water promptly to promote ear development so that normal pollination and fertilization occur. At the same time, promote timely fertilization, following the principles of applying sufficient base fertilizer, lightly applying seedling fertilizer, heavily applying jointing fertilizer and skillfully applying grain fertilizer. Base fertilizer should be mainly organic fertilizer, matched with an appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Topdressing is generally mainly nitrogen fertilizer and is usually carried out at the jointing stage to promote corn growth, improve the kernel set rate and lay the foundation for a high yield.
The above is an introduction to preventive measures for poor kernel set in corn. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.