What causes poor kernel set in corn ears?
Corn is an important field grain crop in China, with an extremely wide planting area, but poor kernel set in corn ears is a common phenomenon during corn cultivation, and if not controlled in time, it will lead to reduced corn yields. So what causes poor kernel set in corn ears? Let's take a look.
1. Adverse climate
Drought and waterlogging weather have a huge impact on corn growth and development. When affected by waterlogging at the seedling stage, it is very easy to develop seedling-stage waterlogging damage, affecting the formation and differentiation of the ear. During the tasseling and silking stage, drought and lack of water will affect pollination, causing empty ears and bald tips. Therefore, water management is extremely important. At the seedling stage, pay attention to drainage to prevent waterlogging, and at the tasseling stage, pay attention to irrigation to keep the soil moist.
2. Insufficient nutrition
When soil fertility is insufficient and cannot meet the needs of corn growth and development, it will lead to poor plant growth, and silking of the ear will be relatively delayed, causing its flowering period to be uncoordinated and lose pollination opportunities, resulting in missing kernels on the ear. When nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are not applied in a proper ratio, silk abortion may occur, making bald tips very likely to form. In other cases, due to insufficient nutrients in the late growth period, the top silks emerge relatively late, the female flowers degenerate, and the stigma becomes deformed, which also leads to missing kernels. During the corn growing period, be sure to ensure sufficient nutrition to promote its normal development.
3. Unsuitable temperature and humidity
The suitable temperature for corn flowering is 22-26 degrees, and the suitable relative humidity is 60%-90%. When the temperature is higher than 30 degrees and the humidity is less than 60%, the number of flowers opening will decrease significantly. When the temperature is higher than 38 degrees, the tassel flowers have difficulty opening. Drought before tasseling will cause poor development of the florets at the top of the ear and delay silking of the ear. Drought and lack of water after tasseling will also delay silking of the ear, causing the flowering periods to fail to meet and affecting pollination. In addition, high temperatures and low temperatures will cause pollen to lose vitality, resulting in poor pollination quality, so missing kernels occur at tasseling. During the corn flowering period, strictly control temperature and humidity so that it can flower and silk normally and improve pollination quality.
4. Pests and diseases
When corn is harmed by aphids, corn borers, red spiders, leaf spot disease, smut disease, etc., it will cause premature aging of functional leaves. When pests and diseases invade the ear, nutrient supply is insufficient or blocked, often forming empty ears or failing to fill kernels normally after pollination. Therefore, strengthen the control of corn pests and diseases, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, improve disease resistance, and use pesticides in time when pests and diseases are found.
The above is an introduction to the causes of poor kernel set in corn ears. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.