What are the causes of corn branching? Latest analysis

Corn often shows branching at emergence, and in fact corn branching is simply the growth of tillers. For crops in general, tillering is a good thing, and tillers also bear fruit, but corn is different: corn tillers do not form ears. So today we will explain to everyone why corn branches.

1. Variety selection

In fact, variety accounts for a relatively large share of the reasons for corn branching. Experts have shown through experiments that in the same area, when temperature, humidity, light and a series of other management factors are all essentially the same, different corn varieties still branch differently. Some have no branching, while some show branching in nearly 50% of plants, and this is branching caused by variety. For example, varieties with thicker leaves have a slightly higher occurrence rate than varieties with thinner leaves. Taller-growing varieties have a lower occurrence rate than shorter-growing varieties.

2. Planting density

Corn planting density is also one of the causes of corn branching. Everyone knows that corn should not be planted too densely, because too dense planting affects ventilation and light in the corn field. However, it also should not be planted too sparsely. If corn planting is too sparse, the corn field will have too many nutrients, and the number of plants and the nutrients will not be in proportion. If corn absorbs excessive nutrients and cannot use so many nutrients, it will grow branches at the side, and when planting density is too sparse, the occurrence of corn branching will be very high.

3. Excessive water and fertilizer

Although corn needs a large amount of water and fertilizer during its growth process, if there is an excess, the gain may not be worth the loss. This is especially true for nitrogen fertilizer. Many people think nitrogen fertilizer can promote corn growth, make the ears plump and large, and increase yield. But fertilizing corn is like eating a meal: if you eat too much and get stuffed, your body will feel uncomfortable. If too much fertilizer is applied, it will be just like planting density being too sparse: the excess nutrients cannot be absorbed, which leads to branching at the side.

4. Short stature factors

During corn planting, poor site selection in the early stage or improper management, damage from pests and diseases, and other issues may cause corn plants to be short, possibly due to excessive use of growth regulators, maize rough dwarf disease, and so on. As a result, a certain corn plant is much shorter than the other corn plants, but it still keeps absorbing nutrients, and the plant cannot grow larger or taller, so it can only grow branches at the side, forming tillers to transport nutrients.

The above four are the relatively common causes of tillering. In fact, there is no need to be too concerned when corn produces tillers, because branching occurs simply because the corn itself has excess nutrients that cannot be absorbed. However, if the tillers grow to about the same height as the main stalk, they still need to be removed, because the tillers require more and more nutrients, which may lead to poor nutrition in the main stalk.