Growing corn for grain

Corn is a thermophilic plant, whose high temperature requirements are manifested during the sowing period. Germination takes place at a soil temperature of 8-10 ° C, and at lower temperatures, the seeds can rot.

Sowing of corn

In order to sow maize, the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm must have reached 8-10 ° C permanently. For the soil and climatic conditions of Bulgaria, sowing should be done between April 5 and May 5-10. Earlier or later sowing from this period leads to reduced results. Earlier sowing guarantees the necessary moisture for the crop to germinate, but is also associated with the risk that the soil temperature will fall below 10 ° C and the seeds will slow down their development or even die. With late sowing, the soil may dry out and the necessary moisture for seed germination may be insufficient. The optimal density for sowing corn depends on the selected hybrid, soil type and cultivation technology (tillage, irrigation or non-irrigation conditions, row spacing and etc.).

The recommended seed density, depending on the maturity of the hybrid, under non-irrigated conditions is as follows:

Early hybrids – 6500 – 7000 harvested plants / dca
Medium-early hybrids – 6000 – 6500 harvested plants / dca
Late hybrids – 5500 – 6000 harvested plants / dca.
The row spacing when sowing corn is usually 70 cm. Increasing the row spacing under non-irrigated growing conditions to 90 cm, while maintaining the number of plants per decare, does not lead to a change in yield.
The sowing depth should be 6-8 cm. It depends mainly on the soil structure and moisture content at the time of sowing. In heavy soils with a clay structure, the depth is reduced to 4-6 cm. The depth of sowing is determined by the size of the seeds. It should not exceed in centimeters, the diameter of the seed in millimeters.
Sowing is done with precision seed drills for trench crops. It should start with early hybrids, from light soil-type fields that dry faster, and end with late hybrids.

Fertilize corn

Corn reacts to manure fertilization. When growing maize under non-irrigated conditions, 2-3 tons of manure per decare should be imported, and when irrigated 3-4 tons before plowing. Fertilizer rates for maize are determined depending on the predecessor, the stock of soil with nutrients, the planned yield, climatic conditions and the method of cultivation. Exemplary norms for our conditions in non-irrigated conditions are 9-14 kg N, 4-6 kg, P2O5 and 4-6 kg K2O per decare, and in irrigated conditions – respectively 20-26, 10-14 and 8-10 kg per decare. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are applied before plowing. Nitrogen fertilizers in non-irrigated conditions are applied before sowing corn, and in irrigated – 1/2 pre-sowing and 1/2 as feeding. Good results are obtained by fertilizing carbonate chernozems and resins with zinc, and on gray forest soils with molybdenum.

Spraying corn

Caring for corn during the growing season consists of weed control, irrigation, irrigation, disease and pest control. Mechanical weed control comes down to harrowing and hoeing. Two harrows can be made depending on the weeding, the first – a few days after sowing, and the next to phase 3 – 5th leaf. The first hoeing is done at a depth of 10-12 cm in phase 3 – 5th leaf, the second after 10-15 days at a depth of 8-10 cm. It is very important to control weeds in the early stages of crop development (up to 6-7 sheets) to avoid competition for water, light and nutrients. Soil and vegetation herbicides are used for control, the choice of which must take into account the characteristics of each field, weed composition, agro-climatic conditions.

Harvesting corn

Corn is harvested fully mechanized and is done in three ways – on cobs, grain and whole plant. On cobs, the corn is harvested until the end of full maturity at humidity up to 25%. The corn is harvested with combine harvesters equipped with adapters at full maturity at a humidity of 12-18%. Recently, grain has been harvested at high humidity – 30-35%.

Corn storage

First, the grain must be sorted according to the moisture level so that you can determine what types of treatment you need to apply to it. At a humidity of 14-15% you can immediately send the harvest to the warehouse. Humidity 15.5-17% indicates the need for drying or ventilation.

The silo-warehouse base we have allows us to accept and store all types of crops, oilseeds and technical crops under guaranteed optimal conditions.

Another method is gaining more and more popularity – storage in large and strong plastic bags. AGRAR – bag is a German company that produces machinery systems and equipment for storage without loss of agricultural products in bags.

Storage of dry or wet products in bags:

grain
oilseeds
corn
fertilizers
pellets
other bulk

AGRAR-bagger Grainprofi is a machine for filling bags with a capacity of up to 400t/h. Required power – min. 80 hp Variable tunnel system – 2, 4/2, 7 / 3,0 meters

Hopper size:

length – 3.90 m
width – 2.40 m
height – 2.50 m
volume – about 7 m3

Filling methods: telescopic / front loader reloading trailer option easy loader 200 – the truck is unloaded directly into the hopper

Storage options: hard surface – asphalt, concrete, pavers, etc .; meadow; stubble

AGRAR-bag ex-bag is a machine for fully automated removal or reloading of stored products. It is driven by a tractor by means of a cardan shaft; Hydraulically removable axles; The sack remains completely empty; Productivity – 120 t / h; Required power 80 hp; Max. loading height 4.40 m .; Quick and easy to use; No losses; No breakage and debris; Extraction of the grain through a sweeping auger; The emptied sack is rolled up without leaving any waste;

Grain production

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Corn

Corn is a thermophilic plant, whose high temperature requirements are manifested during the sowing period. Germination takes place at a soil temperature of 8-10 ° C...