How corn grows: cultivation and care technology, agro-climatic conditions

Thanks to the intensive development of poultry and pig breeding, corn is grown in our country in large volumes. At the same time, in addition to fodder, there are a large number of cereal varieties that are cultivated for human consumption. They are characterized by more delicate grains and taste.

These varieties are grown both in household plots and in summer cottages. Today, only one type of cereal is cultivated - sugar corn. A large number of varieties and hybrids of this species have been developed, suitable for both large-scale cultivation and small private farms.

Farmers and gardeners who decide to plant a crop on their farm would do well to learn how corn grows and what difficulties you may encounter when growing it.

Soil preparation

Corn farming practices include tillage, application of organic and mineral fertilizers, selection and preparation of seed material, sowing, plant care and harvesting.

The choice of the right site before planting corn is of great importance. The culture grows well on black soil, loamy and sandy loamy soil with good aeration and water permeability.

Corn is a light and thermophilic plant, so a well-lit area, protected from the wind, is suitable for it. When choosing a site, it is important to consider that it does not grow well in too moist lowlands and in wetlands. It is better to choose a flat or elevated area.

Corn absorbs a large amount of nutrients from the soil, so to maintain its fertility, it is important to observe crop rotation and not cultivate the crop in the same place 2 years in a row.

Growing corn outdoors starts with soil selection and preparation.

Preparation of the site before planting corn begins with harvesting the predecessors. Before wintering, the soil is fertilized, for which 20-30 kg of humus, 0.3 kg of superphosphate, 0.08-0.1 kg of potassium s alts are added for every 10 m². Fertilizers are applied under plowing, the depth of which should be at least 25 cm, and preferably 30-35 cm.

In the spring, when the top layer of arable land begins to dry out, the plot is loosened to a seeding depth (5-8 cm). You can use a harrow or a rake. This technique will improve soil aeration, retain moisture in it, and speed up seed germination.

Loosening is carried out diagonally to the direction of arable land. If the plot is abundantly overgrown with weeds, 2 cultivations will be required along the fallow: the first is preliminary, to a depth of 8-10 cm, the second is pre-sowing, to the depth of seeding.

When the soil warms up to +10 °C to a depth of 10-12 cm, a week before sowing, mineral preparations are applied to the soil: 0.15-0.2 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per 10 m². Loosen it to a depth of 8-10 cm and level it.

Growing from seed

Cultivation is possible in 2 ways: sowing directly into open ground or through seedlings, followed by planting in a personal plot. Each method has advantages and disadvantages.

Growing corn in a seedless way does not allow you to get an early harvest, but at the same time planting care is much easier. Plants in this case are more resistant to adverse environmental conditions.

Preparation of grains for sowing

When choosing seed, consider the purpose of growing the crop. All hybrids and varieties are divided for cultivation for grain and consumption. The yield, taste and characteristics of growing corn depend on this.

For sowing use seeds of classes I and II, the germination rate of which is not lower than 92%.

Presowing treatment of grain includes sorting, calibration, chemical treatment of seeds. Calibrate the grains to obtain more uniform seedlings. Sorting is carried out to cull seeds with defects. Dressing protects the seed material from pests and diseases. All these procedures are carried out at special enterprises.

To improve germination, 7 days before sowing, the grain is subjected to air-heat treatment at +25 … +35 ° С and good ventilation.2-3 days before sowing, the seed material is washed. In the process, unsuitable seeds float up and are removed. High-quality grain is wrapped in gauze, poured with water at room temperature and kept until it germinates.

Another way to prepare corn seeds for sowing: they are kept in the sun for 5 days, and before planting they are soaked in warm water (+45 ° C) for 1-1.5 hours. The beans are then dried naturally.

Before planting, the seeds can be treated with mercuran or granosan from pests and various diseases.

The choice of varieties affects the timing of sowing. Corn for eating on the cob, freezing and canning is sown in late April - mid-May, when the soil warms up to +12 ° C and the threat of frost disappears.

Subject to agricultural practices and suitable environmental conditions, seedlings should appear on the 12th day. For these purposes, early varieties are used. Corn for grain refers to late. It is more resistant to adverse weather conditions.

Sowing technology

The technology of growing corn for grain involves 2 sowing methods: dotted and square-nested.

The main method by which corn is grown in the fields is dotted. In this case, the crop is sown in rows with a row spacing of at least 70 cm and a distance between plants of 20-25 cm.

In the fields, corn is sown with the SCH-6M seeder with a pneumatic disk-type seeding unit or combined SUPN-8 seeders, which can apply mineral fertilizers simultaneously with the seeds.

Another 1 sowing method is square-nesting, in which row spacings are 70x70 or 70x90 cm. In arid regions and on poor soils, corn is sown with row spacings of 70x140 cm. 1, 2 or 3 grains are laid in each nest hole.

After the appearance of seedlings, weak sprouts can be pulled out. For planting corn in this way, SKNK-8 and SKNK-6 seeders with mechanical honeycomb-disk sowing machines are used. More often this option is used when planting seedlings.

On the backyard plot, corn is sown in rows with row spacing of 60 cm and a distance between plants of 40 cm.

Regardless of the chosen method of sowing, you need to know how to properly carry out the work. Compliance with row spacing facilitates the care of plants and allows them to eat normally. Seeding depth 6-8 cm. The soil should be well moistened and completely cover the grains.

Growing seedlings

Cultivation of corn is also possible in seedlings. At the same time, care becomes much more complicated, but it becomes possible to get a harvest as early as possible.

The seedling method is not suitable for large scale applications due to high labor costs. In the conditions of a summer residence or a personal plot, it allows you to get the best results: good yields and high quality fruits.

Seeds for seedlings are sown at the same time as in open ground, after the same preparation. Humus or peat cups with a diameter of 12 cm are used as a substrate. This method will allow you to immediately grow seedlings isolated from each other, without diving, which will reduce the risk of damage to the root system. After all, corn does not tolerate this procedure.

For landing, you can use cassettes, divided into sections, or containers. In this case, the shoots are kept in a container until the root system completely fills it. The containers are filled with a mixture of turf substrate and humus or compost in a ratio of 1:1. To increase the moisture capacity, a hydrogel is introduced into the soil.

Seeding depth - 3-4 cm, 2 pcs. in 1 hole. After planting, the substrate is moistened with a warm solution of Fundazol (4 g of product per 10 liters of water).

During the growing period, Polyfidom, Terraflex, Master, Kemira-hydro or other fertilizers are applied, seedlings in the greenhouse require additional lighting with fluorescent or fitolamps. A week before planting, the seedlings are hardened in the fresh air.

After germination of seedlings, sprouts are planted in open ground after 30 days. It's the middle of June. Seedlings by this time should have at least 3 leaves. In this case, choose a square-nested landing method. The depth of the hole should be a little more than a clod of earth with the roots of the plant. After planting, the sprouts are watered and mulched.

Features of care

Caring for corn crops comes down to regular watering, top dressing and protection from pests and diseases.

Depending on the purpose for which corn is planted, cultivation features differ.

The best predecessors for her are winter and spring cereals, legumes, vegetables (early cabbage, tomatoes, melons, root crops).

Irrigation

The irrigation regime depends on the agro-climatic conditions and the stage of plant development. During the growing season, corn uses moisture unevenly. Critical stages of development when corn needs 2-4 liters of water per day:

1. Stage 9-11 leaves. This is a period of active growth of green mass and the formation of the root system. Do not water the corn until 9 leaves appear.
2. Corn flowering - the period starts 10 days before heading and ends 20 days after panicle opening. With a lack of moisture during this period, the yield may decrease by 50%.
3. Grain formation stage.
4. Period of milk ripeness of grain.

If the crop is grown in a dotted way, drip irrigation is optimal, which allows maintaining optimal soil moisture for corn - 70-80%.

Modern hybrids are more drought tolerant and recover faster from stressful periods. If the crop is grown in highly fertile soils, its need for water is lower, so the amount of watering can be reduced.

What to feed?

Feedings are made in a given period - the ripening period of corn. The first time - at the stage of formation of 3-4 leaves, organic fertilizer is applied: a solution of mullein or chicken manure.

The second time top dressing is done at the stage of tassels. At this stage of corn cultivation, mineral fertilizers are applied at the root at the rate of one hundred square meters: ammonium nitrate - 2 kg, superphosphate - 3-5 kg, potassium s alt - 1-2 kg.

Especially at this stage, potassium and phosphorus play an important role. The lack of these elements can be identified by the color of corn stigmas and leaves. They brighten, acquire a yellow tint. Elements such as magnesium, sulfur, zinc and calcium are important for culture. Copper and zinc, if necessary, are added in a phase of 5-8 sheets mixed with urea at the rate of 10 kg per 200 liters.

Mineral preparations are also added to the soil by spraying. In particular, 2-3 weeks before panicles appear, irrigation of plants with a solution of urea is effective.

Diseases and pests

The most dangerous fungal diseases for corn, growing crops requires the prevention of various infections of cereals.

Fusariosis is one of the most common fungal infections caused by various types of fungi of the genus Fusarium. The danger of this pathogen is that as a result of its vital activity, toxins dangerous to humans and animals accumulate in plant tissues.

The fungus infects cobs, stems, young shoots, reducing yields by up to 60%. Fusarium cobs appear at the stage of milky-wax ripeness of the grain and are accompanied by the appearance of a pink bloom. Subsequently, the grains darken and collapse.

Even he althy seeds from an infected cob are carriers of fungal spores. When young stalks are affected, corn lacks vitality for development, and the shoots die or do not produce a crop. Mature plants may develop stem rot, which is accompanied by softening and subsequent destruction of the stems. Corn in this case is threatened with death.

High soil acidity, high humidity and low air temperature, excessive crop density, poor soil aeration contribute to the spread of the disease.

Rust is another mycosis of cereals. The causative agent is activated from the second half of summer. At the same time, light yellow spots form on the underside of the leaf, which eventually turn brown and become covered with pustules with spores of the fungus.

With a high degree of infection, the stem also suffers. In this case, plants may dry out or lose about 20% of productivity.

Smut bunt is a common fungal disease of corn, which is accompanied by the appearance of neoplasms - gall on leaves and cobs, and sometimes on stems and panicles. Prolonged drought contributes to the appearance of the disease.

After ripening, the galls fall off, infect the soil, which contributes to the spread of the disease, growing crops in this field in the future only makes sense when choosing resistant hybrids.

To prevent diseases, the grain is treated with fungicides before sowing.

The causative agent of the disease northern helminthosporiasis or necrosis is a symbiosis of chlamydospores and mycelium of the fungus. Due to infection, spindle-shaped spots of gray color with a black border and a coating resembling soot appear on the leaves.Over time, the affected leaves die off. The development of the disease coincides with the beginning of flowering. High humidity promotes infection.

The most common corn pests:

1. Wireworms - larvae of click beetles. Pests often start in irrigated fields and during periods of high humidity. They eat the roots. Capable of destroying up to 90% of crops.
2. Scuttleworm larvae. There are many types of pests. Caterpillars eat cotyledon leaves and young shoots.

Various insecticides are used to protect crops. Prevention is high-quality agricultural technology: crop rotation, deep plowing before wintering, spring cultivation.

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