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Corn Cropping Ideas

  1. A strong biological soil is the backbone of maximum production of both yield and quality in any crop. Benefits of increased biological activity in the soil are:

  1. Water Penetration and holding capacity by promoting increased soil flocculation. As the microorganisms move about in the soil in search of their food they restructure the soil by pushing the particles around. These particles are then held in place by the fungal hyphae and the polysaccharides that are exudates from the bacteria and other organisms resulting in a soil structure or crumb structuring of the soil.
  2. Increased nutrient availability to the plant by oxygenating the soil and thus stimulating more root development along with an increase in nutrient mineralization.
  3. Suppression of soil borne diseases and root feeding nematodes due to competitive exclusion.

  1. BioBase at 1 quart and Plus E at 6 ounces per acre in the fall:

  1. BioBase is product that provides food substrates, enzymes and bio stimulants to the beneficial aerobic microorganisms in the soil. While BioBase stimulates the complete soil food web Plus E provides an enzyme package that works more particularly with the fungal activity. Thus providing a stubble or crop residue breakdown recycling the nutrients or energy used to grow the previous crop. We know that 50% to 60% of the energy used to grow the crop is left in the field as residue and roots.
  2. Application may be made through the irrigation system, impregnating on a dry fertilizer blend, adding to a liquid fertilizer blend, or sprayed directly onto the soil or crop residue before or after tillage.
  3. Timing of application can be done any time just before or after harvest is complete. If fall fumigation is planned a 21 day waiting period is necessary. Break down of crop residue is a function of biological activity and thus requires moisture and warm soil temperature and as such the earlier fall applications will prove most beneficial.
  4. As crop residue is a function of soil biological activity the residue must be in contact with the soil for any biological action to occur. Any place the residue does not contact the soil prevents the microorganisms from doing their work.
  5. Applying 4 ounces per acre Microdigest along with the BioBase an d Plus E will increase the biological degradation of the residues in the soil. Microdigest is an inoculum of specific micro organisms that were selected for their ability to degrade crop and toxic residues.

  1. BioBase at 1 quart per acre in the spring:

  1. BioBase stimulates the complete beneficial soil food web using food substrates, enzymes, and bio stimulants but enhances more the beneficial bacterial activity.
  2. Application can be made, as with BioBase and Plus E, either through the irrigation, impregnating on a dry fertilizer blend, added to a liquid fertilizer blend or sprayed directly onto the soil.
  3. Timing of application can be any time that works easiest into the cultural practices of the grower. Keep in mind that the earlier the biology is kicked into gear in relation to the crop growth the sooner the benefits and advantages will be available to the new growing crop.

  1. Planting

  1. There are two different fertilizer mixes that can be applied at planting:
  1. A pop-up fertilizer of 2 lb. of urea, 1 quart of Sup-O-Phos, 1 pint of Sup-O-K, 6 ounces RootMax, 1 ounce PGPR Galaxy and 4-6 ounces BioBase mixed with 2.5 gallons of water and dribbled directly over the seed at a 3 gallon rate per acre. This will give the corn a strong start with readily available nutrients and a good biological and Mycorrizal stimulate for a stronger and bigger root mass.
  2. A planter band placed 2" out and 2" below the seed. This band can be made up of nitrogen complexed with Nutri-Aid at a rate of 2 pints per 15 gallons of fertilizer as well as some liquid phosphate complexed with Sup-O-Phos at a rate of 1 quart per acre.
  1. A seed treatment of RootMax along with 1 ounce Galaxy can be used to get the biological and Mycorrhizal inoculum and stimulant around the seed if the pop-up fertilizer is not used. The RootMax, Galaxy application helps make quicker germination as well as greater root development.

  1. Fertilization and Foliar Feeding Corn

  1. When corn is in the 3rd to 5th leaf stages it is deciding how many rows of kernels to have around the cob, a foliar of 1 quart of VitaMax and 1quart of BioBase applied at cultivation or Dammer Diking or an application of 30 lbs of nitrogen complexed with Nutri-Aid along with 20 units of phosphate with 1 quart of Sup-O-Phos during this time will give a boost of energy to help increase that number.
  2. Another decision time for corn is at the 10th leaf stage. A boost in the energy level either from a foliar of VitaMax and BioBase as before or an application of 30 lbs of nitrogen complexed with Nutri-Aid along with 20 units of phosphate with 1 quart of Sup-O-Phos will help the corn increase the number of kernels up the cob.
  3. The third decision time for corn is just after the flag leaf has emerged. This is when the corn is deciding if there is enough energy to fill all the kernels it set on. If there is not enough then we get cobs with the tip end blank or no corn. At this time a tissue and soil sample needs to be taken and a foliar mixed to feed the elements that are less than optimum, usually Calcium, Boron, and Potassium. The remaining nitrogen, complexed with Nutri-Aid needs to be applied bringing the soil and applied total to 100 lbs. It is important to save at least 20-30 lbs of nitrogen for this application helping with the energy push.
  4. Soil sampling throughout the season mainly for nitrogen can help reduce the total amount applied. If the nitrogen level in the soil is maintained at 50 to 60 lbs and fertilizer applications made according to the soil sample results weekly an excellent crop can be attained.
  5. All fertilizer applied should be complexed with Nutri-Aid for nitrogen and sulfur mixes and Sup-O-Phos for phosphate fertilizers.