What causes deformed corn? An analysis of common triggers
Deformed corn has a huge impact on corn quality and yield, and it also does considerable harm to farmers' economic interests. Deformed corn includes fifteen types of deformities such as bald-tip ears, missing-kernel ears, empty ears, and bouquet ears. Many friends feel they take good care of their crops, but they still do not know why these problems appear. They also do not know the specific causes of the deformities. Below, let me explain the causes of deformed corn!
1. Drought
Drought is one of the main causes of deformed corn. Under excessively dry or continuously dry weather, farmers fail to do a timely job of replenishing water. This causes a lack of moisture in the soil and air, rapidly reducing the water content in the soil, while the corn cannot absorb enough water, greatly affecting the absorption and transport of nutrients within the corn plant. As a result, the kernels cannot absorb nutrients in a balanced and even way, and deformities appear. Moreover, drought not only affects the development of the aboveground part of the corn, but also inhibits the extension and development of the corn roots, further worsening the corn's absorption system and transport capacity, leading to deformities.
2. High temperature
Continuous high-temperature weather affects the photosynthesis of corn, weakening its intensity and reducing the accumulation of dry matter in the corn plant. High temperatures also force corn to accelerate various reactions during growth and development, shortening each growth stage and completing them ahead of time. This leads to fewer female ears and smaller ears, a decline in their number, and reduced pollen vigor, preventing the tassels from flowering and affecting the later pollination and fertilization process. Blocked pollination prevents corn from setting kernels normally, resulting in deformities.
3. Fertilizer deficiency
Corn has strong growth capacity and also requires a relatively large amount of fertilizer. Its nutritional needs cannot be met by a single nutrient but are fairly comprehensive. If fertilizer is lacking during growth, or if some other nutrient needed by corn is lacking, such as light, especially during the kernel enlargement stage and flowering stage, the lack of any one nutrient will cause deformities in the final corn and may also lead to problems such as pests and diseases. For example, a lack of nitrogen fertilizer may cause bald-tip ears, and a lack of phosphorus fertilizer may cause missing-kernel ears. Therefore, everyone must ensure sufficient nutrients for corn growth during cultivation.
4. Variety
Corn also has many varieties, and the growth conditions and yields of each variety differ greatly, so differences in variety naturally lead to differences in the occurrence rate of deformities. However, the reason is not due to genetic problems in the variety itself. For example, some corn varieties have very tight and short husks, and in rainy weather they cannot effectively block rainwater, allowing rainwater to easily flow into the ear and causing sprouted ears. Of course, some cases are caused by genes. For example, varieties with sweet corn genes are more prone to deformities when they encounter long periods of low-temperature weather during the ear stage, forming barbell-like deformed corn.
The four points above are the main causes of deformed corn, though of course there are far more than these, such as pests and diseases, pesticide-related reasons, and so on. In the final analysis, it is improper management that creates the possibility of these problems. Therefore, everyone must master a correct set of management methods during cultivation and give corn a good growing environment, so as to effectively reduce the occurrence rate of deformities.