MANAGEMENT IN CORN

JULIET L. ACOSTA Agriculturist I/ City Corn Coordinator CGO-Mabalacat City, Pampanga OBJECTIVES: At the end of the topic, participants will be able to learn the following:

1. Importance of water to corn plants

2. Methods of

3. Recommended period to irrigate corn plants. Water Management -is the control and movement of water resources to minimize damage to life and property and to maximize efficient beneficial use. IMPORTANCE OF WATER 1. Water dissolves minerals and so that these become readily available to the plants.

2. It is a medium to transport nutrients from the roots as well as the movement of starch from the leaves to the other parts of the plant. 3. It brings turgidity (strength) to plant cells.

4. It is essential in the various chemical reactions within the plants, particularly photosynthesis.

5. It serves as the crop's cooling mechanism against heat stress through the process of transpiration (or loss of water from the leaves).

WHEN A rule of thumb for watering is every 7-10 days TO or when no moisture is felt IRRIGATE? when a finger is placed about an inch inside of the . Water the corn plants until the soil becomes moist but be careful not to water excessively as over watering may result in leaf drop, wilting, or possibly http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/flow er-plant-care/plant-care/corn-plant- -care/ death of the plant. RECOMMENDED PERIOD FOR IRRIGATION

PERIOD PURPOSE Ensure uniform corn plants 0 - 3 DAP and high germination 13 - 15 DAP Faster plant growth Better absorption of nutrients and 30 – 35 DAP tassel & ear formation Support tassel and silk emergence 40 – 55 DAP and proper pollination 65 – 80 DAP For full grain filling

http://ati.da.gov.ph/rtc1/agri-info/ten-steps-successful-hybrid-corn-production METHODS OF IRRIGATION • FURROW -most practical and least expensive for grain corn production.

• DRIP -Application of water with minimum waste by conducting the water under pressure to relatively closely-spaced grid outlets (drippers) and discharging the water through these outlets at virtually low pressure.

FURROW IRRIGATION DRIP IRRIGATION CRITICAL GROWTH STAGE OF CORN TO WATER DEFICIT R1 (Silking) This is the most critical stage in the development of a corn plant, occurring around 55 to 68 days after corn emergence.

Heat stress and drought during this time can delay silk emergence and shorten the duration of pollen shed resulting in poor pollination. https://www.aganytime.com/pages/article.aspx?name=Corn%20Reproductive %20Growth%20Stages&fields=article&article=2293 Heat and moisture stress can desiccate(extreme dryness) silks making them not receptive to pollen grains.

Good is important for uptake of nutrients at this time. The largest potential corn yield loss can occur from moisture stress at silking and pollination .

Four levels of irrigation were as follows: Effect of Water Stress on Yield of Maize 1] Control where maize [SC 301] plants received 8 at 15 days intervals after the 8.0 first irrigation ; 7.0 6.0 2] Missing one irrigation 5.0 4.0 before silking growth stage ; Grain yield (ton/ha) 3.0 2.0 3] Missing one irrigation at 1.0 silking; and 0.0 Normal stress stress at stress at irrigation before silking grain 4] missing one irrigation at silking filling grain filling growth stage Grain yield TREATMENTS (ton/ha) Normal irrigation 8.0 stress before 7.0 silking stress at silking 4.6 http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.415.4679&rep=rep1&type=pdf stress at grain 6.8 filling Effect of drought on corn yield % yield Stage of development reduction

Early vegetative 5-10 Tassel emergence 10-25 Silk emergence, pollen shedding 40-50 Blister 30-40

Dough 20-30 Effect of water stress

6 WAYS FARMERS ARE SAVING WATER 1. Drip Irrigation 2. Capturing and Storing Water 3. Irrigation Scheduling 4. Drought-Tolerant Crops 5. Going Organic and Compost 6. Conservation Tillage