Corn Seedling Stage Management Methods and Technical Key Points
Corn is one of the major crops grown in China, and its uses are very wide-ranging: it can be eaten, used for oil, made into feed, and more. Corn has strong adaptability to the environment, and combined with the powerful qualities of hybrid corn seed, we can see a bumper corn harvest every year. So do you know what to do during the corn seedling stage to make corn grow faster and better? Below is the corn seedling stage management method that Qinnong Network wants to share with everyone today, hoping to help more partners who love growing corn.
1. Thinning and Replanting
The first step in corn field management is planting establishment, and planting establishment includes checking seedlings, replanting, thinning, and final thinning, among which the most important work is thinning and replanting. About one week after corn emerges, we need to inspect the emergence situation of the corn in the field. If there are spots missing seedlings, we need to replant in time to ensure uniform seedlings in the field. Next is to check whether there are corn seedlings growing too densely in the field, appropriately pull out some from the denser areas, and carry out reasonable transplanting, establishing plants at a row spacing of 40 to 50 cm and a plant spacing of about 30 to 40 cm.
2. Water Management
After planting establishment, watering is needed, because the corn seedlings have not truly survived after transplanting, so they need to be provided with enough water to promote root growth. Usually, if there is no rainfall after planting establishment, then water at least once every 4 to 6 days or so, until new roots grow and the seedlings fully adapt to the new environment, at which point it can be stopped. Finally, after the corn seedlings survive, water should be reduced, because during this period their tolerance to waterlogging is extremely poor and the soil needs to maintain a certain degree of dryness. If rainfall occurs during this period, drainage should be carried out in time, otherwise the corn seedlings will rot and die.
3. Cultivation and Weeding
During the corn growing period, cultivation and weeding need to be carried out at least twice. Usually the first cultivation is carried out about 7 to 10 days after corn planting establishment. First, it can enhance soil permeability; second, it can promote the development of the corn seedling root system; and finally, it can reduce the absorption of nutrients by weeds. The second weeding is generally carried out when the corn seedlings have grown to about 40 cm, mainly to promote plant growth and speed up the growth rate of the plants.
4. Topdressing with Seedling Fertilizer
We usually call the period from after corn is planted and emerges until before the corn ears form the seedling stage, and the so-called seedling fertilizer is mainly intended to promote the growth of corn seedlings. Seedling fertilizer can be divided into uniform seedling fertilizer and seedling promoting fertilizer. Uniform seedling fertilizer is usually applied about 10 days after corn planting establishment, while seedling promoting fertilizer is generally applied when the corn seedlings have grown to about 40 to 50 cm, and each time it is best combined with cultivation and weeding. The components of seedling fertilizer mainly include urea, potassium fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, compound fertilizer, etc., and it is mainly applied in holes, which can enhance the utilization and absorption of nutrients.
5. Pest and Disease Control
The greatest harm during the corn seedling stage actually comes from some underground pests, such as white grubs and cutworms, followed by some leaf-feeding insects, such as leaf rollers and thrips, and finally seedling blight, root rot, and so on. These all pose a great threat to the growth of corn seedlings. For underground pests, we usually use phoxim for root drenching, while for aboveground pests, imidacloprid can be used for control. For seedling blight, we can use carbendazim for control, while for root rot, mancozeb is needed, and in addition, field water and fertilizer management must be strengthened.