What causes multiple ears in corn?
Today officially marks the beginning of August, and temperatures are getting higher and higher. Many corn-growing regions have also entered the final stage of corn ear formation. But along with this come many problems, among which multiple ears on a single corn plant, that is, multiple ears per stalk, 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 period of corn, the most suitable temperature is around 26°C, and humidity needs to be controlled at around 80%. Because this will be beneficial to the flowering and pollination of corn, if the temperature is lower than 18°C or higher than 38°C, the survival rate of pollen decreases, and the time is shortened. If 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 humidity is greater than 90%, it is very difficult for pollen to disperse, and it will rupture upon contact with water, making pollination impossible.
2. Drought and water shortage
In the case of drought and water shortage, the tassel of corn cannot emerge or takes too long, causing the emergence of female and male ears to be unsynchronized, making pollination and fertilization difficult. Because water is greatly needed during the tasseling stage, if water is insufficient, by the time the tassel emerges, the pollen of the female flowers has already died. High temperatures can also cause the female ear to develop too late and silking too late, not beginning until after the tassel has finished shedding pollen. At this time, there is no longer any tassel pollen in the cornfield, and pollination and fertilization cannot occur. Nutrients cannot be transported, and moving downward stimulates the growth of axillary buds, leading to the formation of multiple ears and the phenomenon of multiple ears per stalk.
3. Damage from diseases and pests
Damage from diseases and pests in the early and middle stages of corn can also cause the phenomenon of multiple ears. Being gnawed by diseases and pests will cause corn to lose its growing point, causing the top of the corn to be unable to grow and develop, and nutrients moving downward stimulate the germination of lateral buds, forming the current situation of multiple heads and multiple ears. Moreover, some pests also spread some diseases, such as aphids and others. These pests carry pathogens of diseases such as viral diseases, causing corn to produce toxins, and the nutrient balance within the corn plant is broken, the top cannot grow, and nutrients moving downward cause lateral buds to germinate. This forms multiple ears and multiple stalks.
4. Unreasonable fertilizer application
During the growth process of corn, it is necessary to ensure its fertilizer and water, 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 likewise affect the development of corn, and this is also one of the reasons corn forms multiple ears and multiple stalks. Because if water and fertilizer are excessive, the nutrients in the corn plant are too abundant to be consumed, and lateral buds will be produced, forming multiple ears.
The above four are the main reasons for multiple ears and multiple stalks in corn. Of course, there are other reasons, such as variety, density, and so on. Multiple ears and multiple stalks in corn should be broken off immediately, because the ears formed by multiple ears are shriveled and worthless, but they require a lot of nutrients and will compete with the main stalk for nutrients, affecting the development of the main stalk.