Corn in a crop rotation: the best predecessors to plant after

Corn predecessors provide a quality grain harvest. This culture is not the most capricious in crop rotation. It does not accumulate diseases (the exception is fusarium). Pests of other crops have little interest in corn.

It is much more important to sow it at the time specified for the region. Competent soil preparation, compliance with the temperature and humidity regime will allow gardeners to grow high-quality food or feed corn.

When placed after grain crops, the damage of plantings by nematodes is reduced. Experienced gardeners know that maize does not impair soil fertility. After harvesting, enough organic residues remain in the ground. When rotting, they saturate the soil with nitrogen.

The place of corn in the crop rotation is difficult to overestimate. Sometimes there are no regular crops in the garden. But to improve the soil and free it from weeds, it is useful to plant maize in problem areas.

Why is crop turnover needed?

Corn can be sown after corn 2-3 years. But in order to restore fertility and soil structure, a balanced composition of the flora, it is recommended to adhere to crop rotation.

Alternating plants is economically beneficial for the gardener. The required structure is given to the earth, fertility returns. The effort involved is small. When alternating plantings, the gardener gets the opportunity to reasonably use small suburban areas.

Maize has a tap root system. Plantings loosen the soil to a considerable depth. In the process of development, the culture oppresses weeds. The soil is freed from annual harmful plants.

Corn is demanding on soil structure. Preparation for sowing necessarily involves digging, loosening, disking. After these operations, the bed is freed from perennial weeds. Gardener gets perfect soil without herbicides.

What to plant after corn?

It should be remembered: maize is a powerful plant. It has a highly developed ground part. She retires at the end of the season. Deep, branched roots remain in the soil. They decompose slowly.

To saturate the soil with organic matter, their complete decomposition is required. This is achieved by careful loosening of the soil. The purpose of the procedure is to grind the remains well. Bacteria will do the rest. The gardener will receive a prepared bed for subsequent plants.

What to plant?

Agronomists advise placing next year after maize:

Winter grain crops. After corn, the damage of landings by nematodes decreases. But at the same time, Fusarium disease is possible. Ploughless cultivation of ridges leads to the appearance of mycotoxins in the grain. Diseases of the region should be taken into account. Corn is a conductor for some viruses (dwarf mosaic).
Beets (table, sugar, fodder). After maize, he feels great: nematodes no longer bother crops. But at the same time, beets are affected by root rot. They are caused by fungi. To prevent trouble, it is recommended to finely chop the stems, carefully bury the remains in the soil. This measure will destroy the fungus colonies in the soil.
You can plant peas, horse or black beans. They will give a good harvest on ridges clean from weeds, saturate the soil with nitrogen. This will make her he althier.
Sunflower is not bad born after corn. He will like deeply loosened, fertilized soil. Both cultures love sunny, well-warmed areas. Soil moisture requirements are identical.
The vacated piece of the garden will be decorated with plantings of annual (red) flax. But this plant likes wetter soils.
Potatoes. It grows well after planting corn for grain and silage. The culture responds well to loose soils with a lot of organic matter. But additional application of the mineral complex is required.

Some gardeners sow green manure: clover, alfalfa, lupine. For gardeners with pets, the measure is justified: herbs are used to feed and at the same time improve the land. You should be careful: these followers can litter clean soil.

What can be planted before corn?

An experienced gardener knows: not ideal predecessors are important for corn, but well-prepared soil, absence of weeds and adherence to planting dates. Given sufficient planting space, best results are obtained by placing:

gourds (zucchini, pumpkins, watermelons, melons);
legumes (peas, beans, beans);
potatoes;
canteen, fodder, sugar beet;
spike and grain crops.

In regions with insufficient rainfall, maize is not sown after sunflower and beets. Heliotrope clogs the ridges with spilled grain. Both crops deplete and dry the soil to a depth of 30 cm.

In small gardens, you can grow corn in one place for several years. For gardeners with pets, the following placement schemes apply:

3 consecutive years corn, then peas or beans;
3 years in a row corn, then wheat.

In the fifth year, the rotation of crops is repeated. But to get good harvests is possible only with the timely application of organic and mineral fertilizers. It is convenient to lay landings near the place where animals are kept. This will reduce labor costs for transporting organic fertilizers.

What do predecessors depend on?

The crop rotation assumes the presence of plants, after which the crop gives maximum yields. Maize can withstand monoculture for a long time. This is due to the presence of a huge mass of organic matter in the soil after harvest.

The best predecessors for corn depend on the growing region. This is due to the characteristics of the soil, climate, rainfall.

In the steppes, the highest yields are obtained after planting after winter wheat, barley, melons. A valid precursor is corn.

Moisture is higher in the northern steppe regions. It's easy to grow a good crop there using industrial technology. Its essence lies in the rational use of monoculture, subject to the rules of agricultural technology. Good predecessors are winter wheat after black fallow.

In the forest-steppe zone, ideal predecessors: legumes, corn for grain, potatoes. In areas with increased moisture (north, northwest), the best crops are grown beets. But it should be harvested early: it takes time to prepare the soil.

In the middle lane, a sufficient amount of grain is given by plants planted after potatoes, winter crops, corn for silage. They are placed in front of maize in this region. This is done in areas with artificial irrigation of crops.

Unwanted predecessors

Corn can withstand monoculture for several years. Yields are not reduced (subject to the rules of cultivation). But experienced gardeners know: there are predecessors that are undesirable for maize. Planted it after millet or sorghum, don't wait for the harvest!

All three cultures have diseases in common. They are the "hosts" of viruses. When alternating, a green bridge is created. The infection moves along it with ease and first affects the green parts of the plants, and then the grain. Pests also love them equally.

Few plants improve the condition of the soil after harvest. Mais is one of them. Growing it in the country is useful. If the cultivation rules are followed, labor costs are negligible.

To get good harvests, the gardener should know the place of corn in the crop rotation. Taking into account the peculiarities of growing crops will allow you to rationally manage the economy. Even in small plots, you can plant little and get enough.