Main Causes and Preventive Measures of Corn Stalks

Empty stalk granules are a common phenomenon in corn production, and the level of empty stalk rate directly affects the level of corn yield.

First, the corn empty stalk lack of grain

The phenomenon of corn abundance and grain deficiencies in the field is manifested in three forms. One is that the side is not true, that is, the whole side of the ear has no grain from the base to the top, and the panicle type is multi-directional and lacks the grain side;

Second, there are few kernels in the whole ear, which are scattered on the ears;

Third, the base of the ear is not true, that is, a part of the lower part of the ear is not strong. The bald tip, that is, the top of the ear is small, white or yellowish white, and the severe bald tip can account for more than half of the whole ear.

Second, the reasons for corn stalks, baldness, and lack of grain

It is mainly related to the severity of variety, soil, nutrition and fertilizer, climate, cultivation management, and pests and diseases.

　　 1. Variety factors: Due to the different adaptability of different varieties to the external environment and the resistance to adverse environments, when the adverse external environmental conditions in individual years exceed the adaptation range of the varieties, it is easy to occur with empty stalks and bald tips.

　　 2. Soil factors: sandy soil has higher salinity, low sorghum and easy sorghum, shallow tillage layer, poor water storage and fertilizer retention capacity, thin soil, and empty stalk and bald stalks are heavier.

　　 3. Nutritional factors: improper combination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, no application or less application of organic fertilizers and micro-fertilizers, especially the lack of phosphorus and boron fertilizers in the soil, affecting the manufacture and operation of organic matter in the stage of ear differentiation, less accumulation of organic matter, females Ear dysplasia, empty stalk rate increased. The pollen in the field is reduced, the life of pollen and filament is shortened, and the corn is abruptly lost. In the stage of vegetative growth and reproductive growth, if the mineral nutrient is too much, it is easy to cause vegetative growth, reproductive growth is weak, and organic matter is distributed to the ear. Less, and thus easy to form empty rods.

　　 4. Climatic factors: Before the corn flares to the heading, the peak period of nutrition and water is required for corn. If the drought is short of water during this period, it will affect the normal flowering loose powder and the extraction of the fringe of the tassel, resulting in the tassel advance and The silking is delayed. In this case, the vitality of the pollen is weak, and the filament is easily withered, resulting in an empty stalk that cannot be fertilized by the powder. In this period, continuous rainy weather will also affect the development of the male and female ears of corn; excessive rainy weather, insufficient light, pollen grains are easy to absorb water, swell, rupture, die or bond, lose pollination ability, and the fringe of the ear is not fertilized in time, resulting in There are no seeds or few grains.

　　 5. Physiological factors: The tassels of maize are developed from the top buds, and the growth potential is strong. The tassel differentiation is 7-10 days earlier than that of the female ears , while the female ears are developed from axillary buds, which develop late and have a weak growth potential. When the external conditions are not suitable, the tassel will have a significant inhibitory effect on the ear. If the malnutrition is malnourished, the tassel will take advantage of the apical growth and absorb a large amount of nutrients to the top, resulting in the development of the ear due to insufficient nutrition. Form an empty stalk.

　　 6. Management factors: extensive management, or excessive planting density, resulting in poor ventilation and light transmission in the field, insufficient light, weak photosynthesis of plants, reduced organic matter synthesis, affecting the development of male and female tassels, resulting in empty stalks and bald stalks.

　　 7. Pests and diseases: The occurrence of various diseases, pests and weeds of corn can affect the normal growth and development of corn, resulting in poor growth of corn, especially corn aphids and double-spotted leaf beetles begin to occur in large quantities when corn is plucked, resulting in corn. Can not normally flower pollination, resulting in empty stalks, bald tips and granules.

Second, the prevention and control measures of corn empty stalks

(1) Agricultural control measures

1. Planting excellent varieties. According to the local climate characteristics and cultivation conditions, select and plant varieties that are resistant to disease, insects and adaptability.

2. Improve soil and enhance soil water retention and fertilizer retention. Use well-prepared organic fertilizer and deep tillage and intermediate tillage techniques to improve soil structure, promote corn growth and development, and enhance its resistance to adverse external environment.

3. Scientifically regulate fertilizer and water. From the jointing to the earing stage, the corn is the most vigorous period of growth and development. In this period, the nutrient supply is sufficient to reduce the empty stalks. Add organic fertilizer, reasonable ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, especially to prevent the lack of phosphate fertilizer and boron fertilizer in the field. Implementation leaf fertilization: when the leaf index of 35% -40%, i.e., 6-7 leaves expanded, P manure, all topdressing phosphorus, potassium and 60% of nitrogen, leaf index of 60% -70%, i.e., When 12-13 leaves are unfolded, the remaining 40% of the nitrogen fertilizer is pursued .

4. Reasonable close planting. The suitable density of different varieties is not the same, the rare-planted large panicle varieties are generally around 3000 plants / mu; the compact varieties are generally between 4000-6000 plants / mu. If the planting density is too large, the ventilation and light transmission conditions in the field become worse, and the male and female ears are poorly developed, which is easy to cause empty rods and lack of grains. The planting form can be planted in large and small ridges with a large row spacing of 70 cm and a small row spacing of 40 cm. The plant spacing is determined according to the specific seedling density. The implementation of large-scale ridge planting is conducive to ventilation and light transmission, improve photosynthetic capacity, increase ear nutrition, promote ear differentiation, and reduce empty stalk and grain loss rate.

5. Strengthen management. Strengthening the techniques of cultivating and weeding and cultivating soil, especially after jointing, can enhance the permeability of soil and promote the development of corn roots; adopt wide and narrow row planting techniques to improve the ventilation and light transmission conditions in the field; implement artificial assisted pollination technology during corn silking After the dry dew is dry on sunny days, shake the male flowers with bamboo poles or pull the wire once a day for 2-3 days to increase the chance of pollination, increase the seed setting rate and reduce the baldness and lack of grain.

(2) Prevention and control of pests and diseases

1. Strengthen the prevention and control of corn mash at the end of corn heart.

2. In the middle and late stages of corn growth, pay attention to the prevention and control of various leaf spot diseases and aphids.

3. The growth period of corn is in summer and autumn , and it is also the period of weed growth. It is necessary to strengthen the timely control of weeds in the field, avoid weeds and corn to win glory, fight for water and fertilizer, and strive for nutrition.

(3) weaken the top advantage

The use of emasculation technology can effectively weaken its apical dominance, reduce the inhibition of tassel on the ear, and adjust the rational distribution of nutrients, which can effectively reduce the occurrence of empty stalks, granules and baldness. The method of emasculation is: when the tassels are exposed, the tassels are pulled out by interlaced or intersected plants, and the functional leaves should not be damaged. After the emasculation, only half of the tassels remain in the whole field. After the pollination, the remaining half of the tassels will be left. Remove it to reduce nutrient consumption and help increase grain weight.

Source of information: Zhao Xuening, Feicheng Agricultural Bureau