CORN PRODUCTION
Reporters:
Montesa E. Apatan
Warvic Jean C. Baldado
Micah O. Ybo
INTRODUCTION
Corn ranks second to rice, not only in terms of
area devoted to its production but it has
been a staple food of about 20 % of the total
population of the Filipinos.
Corn may be planted anytime of the year
provided there is adequate soil moisture.
However, it is best to plant from May to June
during the wet season and from October to
November during the dry season.
The following are the 9 steps towards
bountiful corn harvest
STEP 1. CHOOSING THE APPROPRIATE VARIETY OR
HYBRID AND SECURING GOOD QUALITY SEED.
In choosing the appropriate variety,
consider adaptability to climatic
conditions, potential yield, maturity,
resistance to insect pests and diseases,
and market demand.
Use only high quality seeds to avoid
thinning of seedlings or expensive
replanting operations.
STEP 2. LAND PREPARATION
In areas where continuous growing of
corn is practiced, plow the field
once when the soil moisture condition
permits.
Make furrows at the day of planting 75
cm apart at 8 cm depth.
IMPORTANCE OF THOROUGH LAND
PREPARATION
A. Easy in making furrows
B. Easy application of fertilizer
C. c. Better anchorage – deep root penetration
and absorption of water and nutrient
D. d. Uniform germination and growth of crop
stand
E. Easy weed management (off-barring, hilling
up and side dressing)
STEP 3. WATER MANAGEMENT (IN AREAS
WHERE IRRIGATION IS AVAILABLE)
The conventional method of irrigating corn is by the
furrows.
Furrows are first made at planting time and
re-established during the hilling-up operation.
The field should be irrigated again at the following
critical stages:
a. 4th leaf stage (12-15 days after planting)
b. 25-30 days after planting
c. 40-45 days after planting
d. 55-60 days after planting
e. 70-75 days after planting
STEP 4. FERTILIZATION
Determine the fertilizer group appropriate
to your province/locality.
For option 1 and 2 combination of
inorganic and organic fertilizers.
1. Evenly apply in band organic fertilizer along the
furrows at planting time.
2. Do the same for the inorganic fertilizer and the
additional nitrogen fertilizer.
3. Cover the fertilizer with a 2 cm layer of soil
prior to planting.
THE SECOND SPLIT OF NITROGEN IS APPLIED AS
FOLLOWS:
For clayey soils, apply at 25-30 days
after planting or during the hilling-up
operation.
For sandy and loamy soils, apply one
half during hilling-up operation and one
half at 45 days after planting.
STEP 5. PLANTING
For hybrids, plant 1-2 seeds/hill spaced 20 cm apart.
Some hybrids with erect leaves can tolerate closer
spacing of up to 15 cm.
For Open Pollinated Varieties (OPV), plant at 25 cm or
farther between hills.
Use mechanical planters when available for more
uniform depth of planting and emergence.
To minimize pest and disease problems, plant at most
the same period (synchronous planting) as farmers
nearby to minimize pest and disease problems.
STEP 6. THINNING, CULTIVATION, AND
PEST MANAGEMENT
Monitor pest damage and/or pest populations
as well as the presence of natural enemies on
a weekly interval starting from 3 days after
emergence.
Do shallow cultivation or off-barring at 14
days after planting (DAP) to control weeds.
Care should be taken not to damage the plants
during the process.
If the number of growing plants is beyond the
expected, uproot the excess ones carefully
(14-20 days after planting).
STEP 7. SIDEDRESSING, HILLING-UP AND PEST
MANAGEMENT
Apply the remaining amount of
recommended nitrogenous fertilizer (urea,
ammonium fertilizers, etc.) in straight
band along the furrows about 6 cm away
from the plants (side dressing).
The fertilizer immediately after
application by hilling-up at the original
furrow depth.
Continuously monitor the pests and
natural enemy populations weekly.
STEP 8. CROP CARE AND
MAINTENANCE
Continuously monitor the crop even from seedling
stage and immediately remove and burn those with
unusual signs like chlorotic steaks, mosaic, rot, etc. If
the scale is epidemic, notify your technician at once.
Follow up on the previous soil cultivation activity with
spot weeding to control weeds. Take care not to injure
the plants.
Detop (removal of the stalk above the ear, practiced in
corn-after-rice areas for cattle feeding purposes) only
after physiological maturity or black layer stage (about
80-85 DAP). Otherwise
STEP 9. HARVESTING
Harvest at the appropriate stage depending on
the maturity of your variety or hybrid (90-95
days for early and 105-110 days for full
season).
Corn is ready for harvesting when black layer
develops at grains’ point of attachment to cob,
kernels are glazed, and the leaves and husks
are dry.
After harvest, promptly dry the ears to 18%
moisture content for efficient shelling. This
can be done through sundrying for 2-3 days
or mechanical drying for 6-8 hours.
After harvest, promptly dry the ears to 18%
moisture content for efficient shelling. This
can be done through sundrying for 2-3 days
or mechanical drying for 6-8 hours.
Dry the shelled grains further to 14% moisture
content for better storage
Provide dry and sanitary conditions in all
phases of grain processing, transport and
storage to prevent the growth of mycotoxin
producing fungi.
If corn weevil is a problem in storage, spray
or dip the sacks in insecticide solution and
dry them before filling.
Corn grains with 14% moisture content,
97% purity, 3% immature seeds, and not
more than 5% damage are considered to be
of good quality in the grain trade and
therefore command a higher price
THANK
YOU
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