Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Raising Seedlings and Transplanting Spring Corn
The spring corn sowing period is approaching, and in production, work on raising seedlings and transplanting should be done well to promote early and steady growth of corn and achieve high and stable yields. For plots selecting improved varieties to harvest tender corn cobs, it is advisable to choose varieties with good quality such as the Jiangnan Huanuo and Suyunuo series; for plots harvesting corn grain, it is advisable to choose high-yielding varieties such as Zhengyu...
The spring corn sowing period is approaching, and in production, work on raising seedlings and transplanting should be done well to promote early and steady growth of corn and achieve high and stable yields.
Selecting improved varieties: For plots harvesting tender corn cobs, it is advisable to choose varieties with good quality such as the Jiangnan Huanuo and Suyunuo series; for plots harvesting corn grain, it is advisable to choose high-yielding varieties such as Zhengyu No. 5.
Fertilizing the seedbed: When using nutritional pots for raising seedlings and transplanting, prepare for each mu of field a seedbed 1.5 m wide and 20 m long, apply 250 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer, 2.5 kg of compound fertilizer and 2.5 kg of urea in the bed, turn and crush evenly, then make pots, and promptly build an arched shed and cover with film. When using plastic trays to raise young seedlings for transplanting, prepare for each mu of field a seedbed 1.5 m wide and 2.2 m long, and 12 rice seedling trays with 561 holes. After sowing, promptly fertilize and prepare the field, and cover the transplanting rows with plastic film 65-80 cm wide to ensure timely transplanting. There is currently a lot of rain, so it is advisable to vigorously promote and apply the method of raising young seedlings in trays and transplanting under plastic film to resist natural disasters.
Seed treatment: For raising seedlings and transplanting, use 1.5 kg of seed per mu of field; for direct sowing, use 2.5-3 kg per mu. Before sowing, choose sunny days to sun the seeds for 2-3 days to enhance seed vigor and increase the germination rate. Sow by grade to improve the emergence rate and uniformity.
Timely sowing and transplanting: The suitable sowing period for spring corn differs depending on the sowing and transplanting method. In Liyang, for transplanting young seedlings raised in trays, the suitable sowing period is March 15-20, the seedling age is 15 days, and the transplanting leaf stage is from 1 leaf 1 heart to before the 2-leaf stage; for raising seedlings in nutritional pots and transplanting, the suitable sowing period is March 20-25, the seedling age is 30 days, and the transplanting leaf stage is the 3-leaf 1-heart stage; directly sown corn is generally sown at the end of March and the beginning of April, using the method of opening shallow furrows and dibbling. For edible fresh corn cobs, sowing can be done in batches with a sowing interval of 10-15 days to extend the marketing period.
Applying sufficient base fertilizer: Generally, 10 days before transplanting, apply per mu of field as base fertilizer 1250 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer, 25 kg of ternary compound fertilizer and 25 kg of ammonium bicarbonate.
Mastering density: Spring corn is suitable for intercropping and relay intercropping, and the transplanting density differs among plots. In multiple cropping systems, such as intercropping corn with watermelon, it is advisable to plant 2 rows of corn on each side of the furrow, with a plant spacing of 23 cm, planting about 1500 plants per mu; for other intercropped and relay-intercropped corn, it is advisable to maintain a small row spacing of 50 cm, a large row spacing of 67 cm and a plant spacing of 17-20 cm, planting about 5000 plants per mu. For transplanting corn on vacant stubble, make beds 2.3 m wide with furrows 27 cm wide, plant 4 rows per bed, with a plant spacing of 23 cm, planting about 5000 plants per mu.
Controlling pests: The main pests on early spring corn are cutworms and aphids. To control cutworms, poisoned bait can be used at the corn seedling stage (mix 0.5 kg of 90% trichlorfon crystal with 2.5-5 kg of water and spray it on 50 kg of roasted rapeseed cake or cottonseed cake) for trapping and killing; the amount of poisoned bait depends on the area; alternatively, use 100 ml of 48% chlorpyrifos emulsifiable concentrate per mu mixed with 50 kg of water for ground spraying or drenching. To control aphids, imidacloprid mixed with water can be used for spraying.