Key Cultivation Techniques for Standardized High-Quality Corn Production

    I. Seed Selection and Treatment

1. Variety selection: Based on the ecological and environmental conditions of the region, select superior varieties with high yield, high quality, strong adaptability and disease resistance, and a required accumulated temperature during the growth period that is 150°C less than the local perennial active accumulated temperature.

2. Seed coating and seed dressing:

(1) In areas where underground pests are severe but corn head smut incidence is low (incidence rate less than 5%), dry seeds can be sown directly, or "Qianjinding" can be used for seed dressing, followed by coating with Fu'er Yusuibao (pesticide-to-seed ratio of 1:70); for sprout-priming and water-seated hill sowing, use "Qianjinding" diluted with water for sprout priming, and when the corn sprouts "split open," coat the seeds with Fu'er Yusuibao (pesticide-to-seed ratio of 1:75-80).

(2) In areas where underground pests are severe and corn head smut incidence is also high (incidence rate greater than 5%), use "Qianjinding" for seed dressing, then coat with Fu'er Yusuibao, and at sowing time also apply 2-3 kg of zinc-phosphorus granular insecticide per 667 sq m along with the seed fertilizer.

(3) In areas where underground pests are light but corn head smut incidence is high (incidence rate greater than 5%), adopt different measures according to different situations: for direct dry seeding areas, choose 2% Raxil seed dressing agent or 25% Triadimefon wettable powder, dressing at 0.3-0.4% of seed weight; for sprout-priming and water-seated sowing areas, use "Qianjinding" diluted with water for seed sprout priming, then after drying the seeds, dress with 2% Raxil at 0.3% of seed weight.

(4) Microbial fertilizer seed dressing: generally, 500 mL of Fu'er "Qianjinding" and 1500 mL of Fu'er Yisheng microbial fertilizer per hectare can be used for seed dressing.

    II. Land Selection, Crop Rotation Selection, and Tillage and Land Preparation

(1) Land selection: Corn should be planted on plots with deep tilth, relatively high fertility, good water and fertilizer retention, and good drainage. Generally, good previous crops such as soybean, wheat, potato, and corn are suitable as preceding crops.

(2) Tillage and land preparation: A soil tillage system based on deep loosening, combining loosening, plowing, and harrowing, should be implemented, with plowing once every 3 years.

(3) Autumn plowing and autumn land preparation: The plowing depth is generally 20-23 cm, ensuring no missed plowing, no standing furrow slices, and no clods, and ridges should be formed with fertilizer applied and compacted in a timely manner.

(4) Harrowing and deep loosening land preparation: Planting on original ridges is suitable for soft-stubble plots such as soybean and potato with good soil moisture conditions. First remove stubble and deeply loosen the ridge tops, then form ridges and compact, strictly preventing moisture loss. For deep loosening land preparation, first loosen the original furrows, then break the original ridges to form new ridges, and compact in a timely manner.

    III. Fertilization

1. Implement formula fertilization: Carry out soil-testing formula fertilization, achieving rational combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements.

2. Organic fertilizer: Apply 30-40 tons of farmyard manure containing more than 8% organic matter per hectare, broadcast or band-applied with fertilizer during land preparation; phosphate fertilizer: apply 75-112 kg of phosphorus pentoxide per hectare, applied as base fertilizer or with seed dressing during land preparation; potassium fertilizer: apply 60-75 kg of potassium chloride per hectare, as base fertilizer or with seed dressing, but cannot be applied as autumn base fertilizer; nitrogen fertilizer: apply 100-150 kg of pure nitrogen per hectare. Of this, 30-40% is applied as base fertilizer or seed fertilizer, and the other 60-70% is applied as top dressing.

    IV. Sowing

1. Sowing time: Generally, sowing should be done when soil moisture is favorable and the soil temperature at 5 cm depth stably passes 7°C.

2. Sowing method: For plots with soil moisture content below 20%, artificial sprout-priming hill sowing is suitable; for plots with soil moisture content above 20%, direct sowing is suitable. Precision mechanical hill sowing on ridges can be used on ridged plots with precision equidistant hill sowing, ensuring consistent sowing depth and uniform soil covering. For hill-sowing plots, compact promptly after sowing; for water-seated sowing plots, compact the day after sowing; for mechanically sown plots, compact as sowing proceeds. After compaction, the sowing depth should reach 3-4 cm, ensuring no missed compaction and no dragging of soil.

3. Density: Corn sowing density should vary by variety. For varieties with compact plant architecture, generally 60,000-90,000 plants per hectare; for varieties with luxuriant plant architecture, generally 50,000-55,000 plants per hectare. Pure planting: Based on the selected variety, plant strictly according to the density required by variety characteristics and cultivation technique points to maximize yield potential.

    V. Field Management

1. Field inspection and seedling replenishment: Check germination conditions promptly before emergence; if seed rot or sprout rot is found, prepare reserve seedlings; after emergence, replant missing seedlings promptly. When corn has 3-4 leaves, remove weak, diseased, and small seedlings, achieving equidistant final thinning in one operation.

2. Pre-production deep loosening: After corn emergence, carry out pre-production deep loosening or one plowing before hoeing.

3. Tillering removal: Tillering removal means breaking off tillers to save nutrients, concentrating limited nutrients for plant growth and development. Therefore, tillering removal should be done early to reduce nutrient loss and also avoid damaging the main stem.

4. Top dressing: Corn top dressing is generally suitable at the 7-9 leaf stage or jointing stage, applying 60-70% of the total pure nitrogen per hectare. The application position is 10-12 cm from the corn plant, at a depth of 10-15 cm.

5. Foliar fertilizer spraying: Corn foliar fertilizer spraying is generally suitable 3-5 days before tasseling; generally, 2 bottles of Fu'er 655 or Fu'er Weikeduo foliar fertilizer per hectare diluted with water and sprayed on the top leaves of corn.

6. Autumn ridge cultivation: Generally in mid-to-late August, carry out autumn ridge cultivation and weed removal 1-2 times.

7. Standing stalk husk peeling and drying: When corn enters the late dough stage, peel open the husks of corn ears to promote early maturity, reduce field moisture, and improve corn quality.

    VI. Disease, Pest, and Weed Control

1. Pest control

(1) Control of armyworm: Generally in mid-to-late June, spray with organophosphorus pesticides such as Fu'er Disha or pyrethroid pesticides, or use manual capture.

(2) Corn borer: At the late whorl stage (5% tasseling), apply 2-3 kg of BT emulsion per hectare, made into granules and broadcast or diluted with 450 kg of water for spraying. Alternatively, release Trichogramma in the field during the peak egg-laying period of corn borer, releasing 225,000 wasps per hectare, 1-2 releases in total.

2. Chemical weed control

(1) Pre-emergence weed control after sowing: For plots with good soil moisture conditions, pre-emergence weed control after sowing can be used. ① Control of grass weeds: 50% acetochlor, 2250-3000 mL per hectare; 905 Fu'er Hancaosi (acetochlor, 2700-3750 mL per hectare), 1400-1900 mL per hectare; metolachlor or 72% propisochlor, 2250-3750 mL per hectare; or 75% Bai Nong Si, 120-150 g per hectare. ② Control of broadleaf weeds: 50% metribuzin (70% Sencor wettable powder), 900-1050 (600-750) g per hectare; 75% Baoshou dry suspension, 15-25 g per hectare. ③ Control of mixed grass and broadleaf weeds: Fu'er Mianchu (1500-2000 mL per hectare) + 50% metribuzin (400-500 mL per hectare); or 50% Anwei emulsifiable concentrate (acetochlor + metribuzin), sprayed 3-5 days after corn sowing before weed emergence, 3750-4500 mL per hectare. Or 75% Bai Nong Si (120-150 mL per hectare) + 50% acetochlor (1950 mL per hectare).

Note: In the above control measures, all per-hectare application rates need to be diluted with 400-600 kg of water and evenly sprayed on the soil surface.

(2) Post-emergence weed control: At the 3-5 leaf stage of corn and 2-4 leaf stage of weeds, carry out stem and leaf spraying. The agents used include 4% Nicosulfuron suspension, 1000-1500 mL per hectare; 4% Nicosulfuron (750-1200 mL per hectare) + 40% atrazine (1200 mL per hectare) mixed with 60 g of 25% Baocheng; or at the 4-6 leaf stage of corn and 2-4 leaf stage of weeds, use 22.5% Pendimethalin (1500 mL per hectare) + 40% atrazine (2250 mL per hectare).

Note: In the above control measures, all per-hectare application rates need to be diluted with 400-750 kg of water and evenly sprayed on stems and leaves.

    Further reading: Golden corn turned into golden noodles -- corn noodle processing technology