What are the latest causes of multiple ears in corn?
Today officially marks the start of August, and temperatures are getting higher and higher. Many corn-growing regions have also entered the final stage of corn ear formation. But many problems come along with it, among which multiple ears on corn, with several ears on one plant, is a common problem at this stage. So what causes multiple ears in corn? Below, the editor will introduce it to everyone.
1. Unsuitable temperature and humidity
Corn has suitable temperatures at each stage. For example, during the flowering stage of corn, the most suitable temperature is around 26 degrees, and the humidity needs to be controlled at around 80%. Because this will help corn flowering and pollination. If the temperature is lower than 18 degrees or higher than 38 degrees, the survival rate of pollen decreases and the time is shortened. If the humidity is lower than 60%, it will affect the flowering rate of corn, because lack of water in pollen will shorten its survival time. If the humidity is greater than 90, it is very difficult for pollen to disperse, and it will burst upon contact with water and be unable to pollinate.
2. Drought and lack of water
Under drought and water shortage conditions, the tassel of corn cannot emerge, or takes too long to emerge, causing the male and female tasseling to be unsynchronized, making pollination and fertilization difficult. Because water is very much needed during the tasseling stage. If there is not enough water, by the time the tassel emerges, the female flower pollen has already died. High temperatures can also cause the ear to develop too late and silk too late, not starting until after the tassel pollen has finished shedding. At this time, there is no more tassel pollen in the corn field, and pollination and fertilization cannot occur. Nutrients cannot be transported, move downward and stimulate the growth of axillary buds, leading to the formation of multiple ears, with several ears on one plant.
3. Damage from diseases and pests
Corn being damaged by diseases and pests in the early and middle stages can also cause the phenomenon of multiple ears. Being gnawed by diseases and pests will cause corn to lose its growing point, so the top of the corn cannot grow and develop, and nutrients move downward to stimulate the sprouting of lateral buds, forming the current situation of multiple heads and multiple ears. Moreover, some pests also spread some diseases, such as aphids. These pests can carry pathogens of diseases such as viral diseases, causing corn to produce toxins. The nutrient balance in the corn plant is broken, the top cannot grow, and nutrients move downward to cause lateral buds to sprout. This forms multiple ears and multiple cobs.
4. Unreasonable fertilizer application
During the growth process of corn, it is necessary to ensure its fertilizer and water supply, and corn must not be allowed to lack fertilizer or water, otherwise it will affect the normal growth and development of corn. But if water and fertilizer are excessive, it will also affect the development of corn, and this is also one of the reasons corn forms multiple ears and multiple cobs. Because if water and fertilizer are excessive, there will be too many nutrients in the corn plant to consume, and lateral buds will be produced, forming multiple ears.
The above four are the main causes of multiple ears and multiple cobs in corn. Of course, there are other reasons, such as variety and density. Multiple ears and multiple cobs in corn should be broken off immediately, because the cobs formed by multiple ears are shriveled and worthless, but they need a lot of nutrients and will compete with the main stalk for nutrients, affecting the development of the main stalk.