Key Technical Points and Specific Measures for Promoting Early Maturity in Corn

To ensure corn matures as quickly as possible before the autumn frost, preventive measures should be taken in advance. Many farmers promote early maturity artificially, and although many people use this method to promote early maturity in corn, their practices vary. Below, the editor also brings you a method for promoting early maturity in corn. Let's take a look.

1. Proper irrigation

As the saying goes, "A spring drought is not a drought; an autumn drought costs you half." In September, many regions are prone to drought, and insufficient water supply seriously affects the grain-filling process, reducing the number of grains and lowering grain weight, directly causing yield reduction. It is advisable to water at the late milk stage of corn, that is, 7-10 days before harvest. The amount of water should not be too large, to prevent lodging. If heavy rain occurs, clear the furrows promptly after the rain to drain the accumulated water, so as to avoid waterlogging in the field that can rot the roots.

2. Remove barren stalks and diseased plants early

After the booting stage of corn, check the field conditions frequently. Once barren stalks and diseased plants are found, they must be cut out thoroughly as early as possible. In addition, the removed head smut-infected plants must be taken out of the field and buried deep to prevent the pathogen from spreading again in the field. Doing this can also improve field ventilation and light penetration, reduce nutrient consumption, favor plant growth and development, and promote the formation of large ears with plump grains.

3. Spray microelement fertilizers

In recent years, the first frost period has clearly shifted later, but if sowing is delayed, the corn's growth time is limited and it will still suffer frost damage. During the grain-filling stage in mid-to-late August, measures such as loosening the autumn ridges, spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate, breaking off small ears, and removing lower leaves can be taken to improve field ventilation and light penetration, reduce nutrient consumption, and promote early maturity and high yield in corn.

4. Harvest appropriately late

At the late dough stage of corn, be sure not to strip leaves or cut off the tops. You can let the stalks stand and peel back the husks to dry, speeding up grain dehydration, promoting early maturity, and improving corn quality. This can reduce the moisture content by 3% and increase corn yield by about 5%. When the corn husks are dry and loose, the grains become hard and shiny, the milk line disappears, and a black layer appears at the base, it should be harvested in time. At the same time, pay constant attention to weather changes. 1-2 days before the early frost, cut down the corn stalks and stack them, harvesting with the ears attached to promote after-ripening.

The above is an introduction to corn early-maturity promotion techniques. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.