To increase corn yield, timely late harvest is key

Summer-sown corn is gradually approaching harvest, and ensuring stable, high corn yields is especially important.

Correctly mastering the corn harvest period is an important production step for increasing kernel weight, reducing losses, and improving both yield and quality. Harvesting corn late at the right time can increase yield by more than 100 jin per mu.

To achieve higher yields through late corn harvest, keep in mind the "six ones," namely:

First look: Observe the growth characteristics of corn. The corn maturation period goes through three stages: the milk-ripe stage, the dough stage, and the full-ripe stage. Because corn differs from other crops, its kernels grow on the ear and do not easily fall off after ripening, so after-ripening can be completed while still on the plant.

First determine: Determine the best harvest time for corn. The full-ripe stage is the best harvest time for corn. Some farmers worry that rainy weather will affect the autumn harvest and delay winter wheat planting; some farmers worry even more that their crop will be "snatched away" by others, so panic harvesting is often seen. Harvesting too early or too late brings unnecessary losses. To verify whether corn has entered the full-ripe stage, you can look at its external characteristics: the middle and lower leaves of the plant have turned yellow, the basal leaves are withered, the yellow leaves of the ear are yellowish-white and loose, the milk line of the kernels has disappeared, the black layer has appeared, the kernels have hardened, and they show the color inherent to the variety.

First calculate: Calculate the time for late corn harvest. Under normal circumstances, based on the normal growth period of corn, it is advisable to extend the period by about 10 days before harvesting.

First harvest: Harvest quickly and in a timely manner. Check the weather forecast in advance, arrange people, vehicles, and all other preparatory work before harvest, and strive to complete the harvest in one go.

First peel: After harvest, do not stack the corn in piles; promptly use manual labor and a corn peeling machine to remove the husks.

First thresh and dry: Because the moisture content of late-harvested corn is generally around 30%-40%, listen to the weather forecast, dry it in sunny weather, and promptly thresh and dry it. It is advisable to dry it until the corn moisture content is below 14%.