The Latest Prices of Black Corn Seeds and a Detailed Guide to Growing Them
Black corn is a special type of corn with a glossy, jet-black appearance. Its grain aleurone layer deposits melanin to varying degrees, and it is rich in water-soluble melanin as well as various essential trace elements, plant proteins and various amino acids, with a nutritional content noticeably higher than other cereal crops. Now let us take a look together at the prices of black corn seeds and how to grow them!
How much is a jin of black corn seeds?
The price of black corn seeds is about 40 to 60 yuan per jin, but prices vary considerably depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin and the market. Black corn is suitable for planting in most corn-growing regions of China, and can be sown in either spring or summer. The planting method is basically the same as for ordinary corn, and the cultivation method is simple. About 5 to 6 jin of seed is used per mu, and more than 4000 tender cobs can be harvested, with a single fresh cob weighing up to 250 grams. At present it is mainly sold retail as fresh tender cobs on the market, so it can be developed in appropriate amounts around factories, mines, colleges and cities.
What varieties of black corn are there?
1. Black Pearl sweet corn: Black Pearl sweet corn is currently the main variety promoted for cultivation, with good stress resistance, wide adaptability and high yield. Its dry grain yield reaches 450 kg/mu, the fresh cob harvest period is 80 to 85 days, the grain maturity period is 105 days, and the suitable density is 3500 plants per mu.
2. Black waxy hybrid varieties: Black waxy hybrid varieties include Black Waxy No. 1, Black Waxy No. 2, Black Waxy No. 3 and others. Among them, Black Waxy No. 2 has a conical ear, smaller grains and a compact plant shape. After maturity and drying, the grains are black and shriveled, and it is sticky and fragrant with no residue, belonging to a medium-maturing, slightly early-maturing variety.
Sowing methods for black corn
1. Variety selection: The black corn variety should be decided according to the time to market and the local growing environment. At present, the black corn varieties commonly used in production mainly include Italian black corn, Korean Zijinxiang black corn, Kaoshan black corn, black waxy hybrids and others.
2. Isolated planting: Black corn and ordinary corn must be planted in isolation to avoid cross-pollination. Within a range of 350 to 400 m around the field where black corn is planted, no other corn should be grown. At the same time, no other corn varieties should be sown in the 20 days before and after sowing black corn, so as to stagger the corn flowering and pollination times.
3. Seed treatment: Black corn seeds are small, not plump and store few nutrients. About 7 days before sowing, sun the seeds, separate the seeds by size, and sow them separately, striving for uniform emergence.
4. Fine sowing: Black corn has a relatively weak ability to germinate and break through the soil, so choose a plot with good fertility, moderate pH, convenient irrigation and drainage, and sufficient soil moisture for planting. Prepare the land finely and sow shallowly and carefully, generally at a depth of 4 cm.
5. Reasonable close planting: The planting density of black corn should be determined according to variety characteristics, soil fertility, sowing time, planting method and market demand. The general density is 3000 to 3500 plants per mu.
Growing methods for black corn
1. Soil preparation and fertilization: Black corn has a relatively short growth period, a short plant shape and fast individual development, so it is suitable to apply sufficient base fertilizer all at once. It is required to apply 50 kg of diammonium phosphate, 25 kg of potassium sulfate, 10 kg of full-element compound fertilizer, or 20 kg of urea and 50 kg of superphosphate per mu.
2. Transplanting and thinning: When black corn is at the 3 to 4 leaf stage, thin the seedlings and transplant seedlings to fill gaps. When transplanting, bring soil with the seedlings and water immediately after planting, preferably in the evening or on a cloudy day. At the 5 leaf stage, keep 1 plant per hole. From the jointing stage to before the big trumpet stage, earth up the soil and remove tillers and branches early.
3. Watering management: During the seedling stage of black corn, when the soil moisture is 50 to 60% of the maximum field water-holding capacity, irrigation may be omitted. After jointing, soil moisture should be kept at 70% of the maximum field water-holding capacity. Generally, whether to water at the small trumpet stage can be decided according to weather conditions.
4. Timely topdressing: Black corn should be topdressed according to the time, the seedlings and the land. Generally, 15 kg of dipotassium phosphate and 5 kg of potassium sulfate are used, with one topdressing each at the jointing stage, heading stage, flowering stage and grain-filling stage.
5. Artificial pollination: Black corn is planted at a relatively high density and the leaves shade one another, so pollination is poor and sparse grains and bare tips easily occur. Therefore, during the flowering period, collect pollen by hand and pollinate the ears, collecting and pollinating at the same time, every day from 10 to 11 a.m., for 3 to 5 consecutive days.
6. Pest and disease control: Black corn is mainly eaten fresh, so pests and diseases should be controlled by integrated methods. Biological preparations, Bacillus thuringiensis, validamycin and others can be used to control northern and southern corn leaf blight and banded leaf and sheath blight. Avoid pesticides with long residual periods and large residues, and stop using them 20 days before going to market.
7. Timely harvest: The sugar content of black corn ears is highest 22 to 28 days after silking, and the skin is thinnest, making this the most suitable time for harvest. Harvesting too early or too late will affect the quality and taste of black corn. When processing for sale, it is best to steam it with water vapor, as boiling in water will reduce the quality of black corn.