![]() Subdivisions of the V stages are designated numerically as V1, V2, V3, etc. The staging system employed here divides plant development into vegetative ( V) and reproductive ( R) stages ( table 1). Thus, the labeled illustrations of a corn seedling, lower stalk, corn ear, and corn kernel are introduced first as a reference, figures 1-4. The number of kernels that develop, final kernel size, rate of increase in kernel weight, and length of the reproductive growth period will vary between different hybrids and environmental conditions.įamiliarity with the names and locations of some corn plant parts is helpful in understanding how the plant develops.Environmental stress such as nutrient or moisture deficiencies may lengthen the time between vegetative stages but shorten the time between reproductive states.The rate of plant development for any hybrid is directly related to temperature, so the length of time between the different stages will vary as the temperature varies, both between and within growing seasons.A late maturing hybrid may develop more leaves or progress more slowly than indicated here. An early maturing hybrid may develop fewer leaves or progress through different stages at a faster rate than indicated here.5 and 6 (which were greenhouse grown) were field grown and photographed in the laboratory.Īll normal corn plants follow this same general pattern of development, but the specific time interval between stages and total leaf numbers developed may vary between different hybrids, seasons, dates of planting, and locations. Plants and plant parts are displayed at identifiable stages of morphological (form and structure) development. Each plant develops 20-21 total leaves, silks about 65 days after emergence, and matures about 125 days after emergence. ![]() The illustrations and discussion in this publication represent an adapted midseason hybrid in central lowa. Management Guides pinpoint practices needed for optimum plant growth and production. The basic information explains corn growth and development through one life cycle. This publication is designed to aid those involved in corn production to more fully understand how the corn plant develops. A producer who understands the corn plant can use production practices more efficiently to obtain higher yields and profit. however, a producer needs to understand corn growth and development. Such operations include tillage and fertilization of the soil, irrigation, weed and insect control, and many other practices.Ĭombinations of these practices vary over different production situations and management levels. This means that growth and yield of a corn plant are functions of the plant's genetic potential to react to the environmental conditions under which the plant is grown.Īlthough nature provides the major portion of the environmental influence on corn growth and yield, a corn producer can manipulate the environment with proven managerial practices. The overall concept of corn production is that the raw materials and sunlight (power), combine with the internal machinery of the hybrid being grown to yield dry matter. Differences in growth and yield between hybrids are a result of differences in factory internal machinery. The products, called dry matter, consist of different combinations of carbohydrates, proteins, oils, and the mineral nutrients. The internal machinery that transforms these raw materials into useful products (yield) is powered by sunlight. Basically, the raw materials for the factories (plants) are water and mineral nutrients from the soil and carbon dioxide and oxygen from the atmosphere. It is a manufacturing community with many thousands of highly organized and highly efficient "factories" per hectare or acre. One way to look behind the scene is to consider the cornfield as a complex and constantly changing community. There's more than meets the eye in a field of growing corn.
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