What to Do About Missing Kernels and Bald Tips in Corn? Causes and Preventive Measures

Corn is one of China's important crops and the main source of income for many farmers. Its yield is tied to farmers' economic returns, but during cultivation, certain factors often lead to missing kernels and bald tips in corn, seriously affecting both yield and quality. So what causes missing kernels and bald tips in corn? How can it be prevented? Let's take a look.

I. Causes of Bald Tips

1. Excessive planting density is one of the main causes of missing kernels and bald tips in corn. When planting density is too high, air circulation is poor, causing corn plants to compete with each other for nutrients, which leads to missing kernels and bald tips.

2. During the flowering and pollination period of corn, if temperatures are high and soil moisture is insufficient, the lifespan of pollen and silks is shortened. During pollination, rainy weather and drought both affect normal flowering and pollination, and poor pollination leads to missing kernels and bald tips.

3. Continuous use of chemicals or chemical residues from the previous crop can cause phytotoxicity to corn, stunting its growth, delaying the growth period or preventing tasseling, so it loses its fertilization function, resulting in missing kernels and bald tips.

4. Missing kernels and bald tips in corn are also related to some extent to its variety and seed quality. Some vendors, seeking greater profit, sell lower-quality seeds or mix in substandard varieties.

II. Preventive Measures

1. Choose good seed. Some varieties show more severe missing kernels and bald tips, so choose varieties suited to the local climate as the main planted variety.

2. Control the sowing time well. Temperature and light are the main factors affecting its growth. Its seeds germinate at temperatures above 10-12 degrees, so sow promptly once the temperature stabilizes above 10 degrees.

3. Planting density should also be reasonable, neither too dense nor too sparse. Too dense affects photosynthesis and normal pollination of the plants, causing missing kernels and bald tips. Too sparse leads to lower yield. Generally, control it at around 3,500 plants per mu, removing weak plants and keeping strong ones.

4. For fields with late development or poor pollination, carry out timely manual supplemental pollination, which can reduce the incidence of missing kernels and bald tips.

The above is an introduction to the causes of missing kernels and bald tips in corn and preventive measures. We hope it helps you. For more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.