It's the time of year when farmers are busy applying fertilizer to summer corn. Compared to spring corn, summer corn has two main characteristics. First, its growth cycle is shorter, typically around 100 days. The seedlings grow during a period of high temperatures and heavy rainfall. Second, summer corn is usually planted in a rotation system with winter wheat. In some regions, farmers harvest their winter wheat and immediately plant summer corn, a period known as the "Three Summers" season, where they try to maximize crop output. Because of this tight schedule, there’s little time for land preparation or applying base fertilizer before planting. As a result, summer corn often relies on seed fertilizer and top-dressing for nutrients.
In other areas, corn is sown before the wheat is harvested. Regardless of the planting method, the common challenge is that no base fertilizer can be applied before sowing. Therefore, fertilization must rely primarily on seed fertilizer and timely top-dressing. How should farmers manage seed fertilizer and top-dressing for summer corn? The experience of Chen Aiguo, an agricultural expert from Wangdu County, Hebei Province, offers valuable insights.
Chen recommends applying seed fertilizer at the time of planting. He uses about 10 kg per mu of a compound fertilizer with a ratio of 15% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 15% potassium. The fertilizer is applied and then covered with soil. When the corn reaches the trumpet stage, he applies a second round of fertilizer—20 kg of urea per mu—by digging holes, placing the fertilizer inside, and then watering it in. Over the past two years, the average yield from his summer corn fields has exceeded 450 kg per mu, with some plots reaching even higher levels.
Expert analysis highlights several key points in this fertilization approach:
1. The timing of the first and second fertilizer applications aligns well with the growth stages of the corn, demonstrating the importance of timely feeding.
2. The use of balanced NPK fertilizer at the early stage and nitrogen-rich fertilizer later reflects a scientifically sound nutrient management strategy.
3. The amount of fertilizer used—compound fertilizer and urea—has proven effective, resulting in yields between 450 to 500 kg per mu. This is considered both economical and optimal for summer corn production.
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