What are the causes of corn lodging and what are the solutions?

Corn lodging is a common phenomenon during cultivation. Lodging between tasseling and grain filling may cause total crop failure, while lodging after grain filling also affects yield and quality, causing reduced yield and poorer quality. So what causes corn lodging? How should it be solved? Let's take a look with Qinongwang.

1. Types of lodging

According to the lodging situation of corn, it can be divided into three types: root lodging, stalk lodging and stalk breaking.

Root lodging: this shows as no change in the planted stems and leaves, neither bending nor breaking, but only a change in the position of the corn root system in the soil, and it all occurs during the growth, jointing and tasseling stage.

Stalk lodging: this shows as no obvious change in the root system, which remains fixed in position in the soil, but the plant stalk bends, generally occurring in varieties planted at high density or with relatively strong stalk toughness.

Stalk breaking: stalk breaking is an upgraded version of stalk lodging; the root system shows no obvious change, but the stalk directly breaks and falls from a certain internode. This situation has the greatest impact, and in severe cases results in no harvest at all.

2. Causes of lodging

The causes of corn lodging can be roughly divided into three types. First, variety: some varieties grow tall plants, but the stalks are thin and weak and the root system is not well developed, so after grain filling the stalks cannot bear the weight of the grain and lodge. Second, human factors: there are many human causes, such as high planting density and poor air and light permeability between plants, leading to poor growth and large-scale lodging, as well as lodging caused by improper fertilization. Third, weather: as the saying goes, natural disasters and man-made misfortunes; in seasons of heavy rain and strong wind (typhoons), torrential rain and strong wind directly press or blow the plants down.

3. Preventive measures

Among the three causes of lodging, apart from weather, which cannot be controlled, the other two can both be prevented through human effort. When selecting seeds, choose varieties with strong plant growth, shorter tasseling height and thicker stalks. When planting, control the density reasonably; it should not be too dense. According to different varieties, generally maintain 3500-4500 plants per mu. From July to November, carry out timely chemical regulation and spray foliar fertilizer to strengthen plant growth, and fertilize reasonably. During the tasseling stage, detassel every other row, and after pollination remove all tassels; the lodging prevention effect is relatively good.

4. Solutions

If lodging occurs before the corn tasseling stage, do not move it and do not lift it upright. A few days after lodging, it will naturally rise up, and the stem nodes near the ground will naturally take root. Later, secondary lodging will not occur; on the contrary, the amount of roots increases, and yield and quality will not be affected. If it is lifted upright, secondary lodging may occur, and it will not take root, affecting yield. If lodging occurs after tasseling, the leaves cannot be cut and the top cannot be removed; it can only be lifted upright and then tied in bundles. The number of plants per bundle should not be too many; generally 3-4 plants are enough. The bundle should be tied tightly and must not be loose. It is best to tie it the same day it lodges; if more than three days have passed, it should not be lifted upright, otherwise it will cause damage to the root system.

The above are the causes of corn lodging and the solutions brought to you by Qinongwang. We hope they can help you. To learn more about corn cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to Qinongwang.