Proper late harvesting of maize is an important yield-increasing technique without investment or work. Properly mastering the harvesting period of corn is an important part of increasing grain weight and improving yield and quality.
1. The benefits of harvesting corn late
① Extend the seed filling time and increase maize yield. Research and practice have shown that if corn is harvested 1 day per night, the yield can be increased by 5-7 kg per mu, generally, 8-10 days late, so without increasing any costs, just late harvesting can increase by 40-70 kg per mu.
② Increase the amount of protein and amino acids and improve the quality of the commodity. A proper late harvest of corn not only increases starch production in the kernels but other nutrients as well. In addition, the right time to harvest the maize kernels full and full, the seeds are more uniform, small grains, blighted grains significantly reduced, the moisture content of the seeds is relatively low, easy to thresh and storage and the quality of goods will be significantly improved.
2. Determination of the maize harvesting period
Each maize variety has a relatively fixed fertility period in the same area, and only by meeting its fertility requirements and allowing the maize to mature normally can high yields and quality be achieved. To determine whether corn is normally mature or not, it is important to focus on whether the kernels have stopped filling and to use physiological maturity as the harvesting standard.
The main sign of physiological maturity in corn kernels is the disappearance of the kernel milk line. The formation, downward movement, and disappearance of the corn grain milk line is a continuous process. Around 30 days after pollination, the endosperm tissue at the top of the kernel begins to harden and forms a transverse interface layer with the lower juicy endosperm part, the milk line. As the amount of starch deposited increases, the milk line gradually moves downwards. Around 60 days after pollination, the milk line disappears from the lower part of the cob, the black layer forms on the lower part of the endosperm, the moisture content of the kernels drops to less than 30%, the cob bracts turn white, and are loosely wrapped, at which time the grain weight is at its maximum and the yield is at its highest, which is the best time to harvest.
3. How to prevent mold in the autumn harvest of corn
When the corn harvest is about to begin, a large amount of maize will be transferred from the farm to the yard, and good post-harvest storage is also an important part of increasing farmers' income, and the following points should be noted with maize storage.
(1) Dry precipitation, generally farmers in our county use exposure to the sun to deal with it.
(2) Corn cobs must be removed and de-polled before they are put on trips, stacks, and stacks, as maize cobs are the main source of heat.
(3) The green cob must be picked out as it is the moldy center cob and can be used as livestock feed.
(4) Before going on trips, piles, and stacks, the bottom mat must be struck to avoid direct contact between the ears of maize and the ground.
(5) Each household should have some plastic sheeting available for thatching in case of cloudy precipitation during the storage of the ears of corn.
(6) Before storage, screen out impurities such as poorly ripened seeds, broken seeds, and sandy debris to ensure that the maize is clean.
