How to Improve Corn Yield - Things That Will Help

First Posted: Dec 30, 2022 05:17 AM EST
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How to Improve Corn Yield - Things That Will Help

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Corn is a staple crop that many grow in your gardens or even on the farm. It's also an important crop to help keep food prices low and provide high-quality feed for livestock.

Because of the importance of corn, farmers have long tried to improve yields through conventional practices such as fertilization and plant population control. 

Still, more recently, research has shown there are other factors to consider when trying to achieve higher corn yields.

In this article, we'll look at some ways you can improve your corn yield by following these steps:

1 - Choosing a high-yielding seed

Choosing a high-yielding seed is the first step to improving your corn yield. It's important to buy seeds from a reputable company. Still, it can also be helpful if you buy from a company that provides good customer service and offers high germination rates.

2 - Provide adequate plant population

The planting population is the number of plants per acre. It's determined by the desired plant stand, which needs to be based on the expected yield potential of your hybrid and variety, as well as field conditions such as soil type and fertility levels. 

In other words: if you're growing a high-yielding hybrid with good yields across a wide variety of soils but are using lighter-textured soil in which it performs poorly, then you'll want to increase your planting population for better results.

3 - Corn Calculator

A corn calculator is a tool that helps you determine how much corn you can expect to harvest from your crop. It's important to understand your yield before you plant to ensure that it's in line with what you need for your operation.

To use the calculator, enter the number of corn seeds you're planting and how many rows are in each row (i.e., if you're planting 40 rows of corn, enter 40). 

4 - Fertilize with nitrogen to meet the plant's needs when it's needed.

Fertilize your corn with nitrogen in the fall, when the plant needs it most. Corn's most important nutrient is nitrogen, so you should apply it at least two weeks before you plant seeds.

When fertilizing your crop, apply a balanced mix of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The ideal ratio of these three nutrients is 17-20-25 parts N / P / K per 1 part soil or foliar application. You can also measure these proportions using fertilizer charts online or a measuring cup and mixing equal amounts of each ingredient into a bucket of water until they dissolve completely--but remember, microorganisms! 

They help break down organic matter in soils into usable forms that plants can use as food sources; however, if you kill off all living things on Earth just by watering plants with this stuff, then we're not sure what else there might be left for them to eat besides dirt!

5 - Do not plant early

When the air is cool, it takes longer for the corn to grow. The earlier you plant your corn, the more growth will be lost, and the less likely it will be that you will get a good yield. Planting in the fall after Labor Day is fine, but planting early in the spring is not recommended.

Planting early can lead to a large yield and a high chance of success, but it also means that you're producing in the heat of the day, which means less time for your crops to grow. It's a tradeoff-the higher yield means more work for you, but the lower temperature means less work for your crops.

6 - Harvest when the plants are mature, not before that time

When growing corn, the best way to get the most out of your harvest is to harvest when the plants are mature. That'll mean more ears per plant, which means more yield overall.

You can also ensure you're harvesting at the right time by following this simple rule: Harvest your corn when it's just beginning to turn yellow. The colour of a corn plant tells you exactly when it's ready for harvest, so if you're worried about whether or not you're getting your crop in before it's fully prepared, try this tip!

7 - Plant a mix of six different varieties of corn

Corn is a great crop for many reasons; one of the most essential is its high genetic diversity. This diversity allows you to plant a mix of six different varieties of corn, and that can increase your yield by about 50%.

The best part? It's easy to do! All you need to do is plant one variety in each planting row and let the plants grow until they are mature enough to harvest.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many ways to improve corn yield. The best way is to use technology, such as fertilizer and irrigation. They will help your corn grow faster and produce more grains per plant.

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