Seed Corn: Learn Benefits, Diseases and future of seed corn

Perhaps, seed corn is the most significant product of the new agriculture. Seed corn is something that needs to be well known to both the farm producer and the hobby gardener to have high yields and healthy crops. Here is a complete source to guide you through all the details about seed corn, from types of seed corn to its planting, care, and harvesting.

What is seed corn?

There is specialty corn that is grown and prepared specifically for plantings of another crop. There is no seed corn that imitates other staple corn intended as human food and animal feed because seed corn specifically requires selection to be handled appropriately. This ensures maximum germination to seed growth.

Types of seed corn

Knowledge of seed corn type will determine what seed variety to cultivate as according to your farming requirement. The principal ones are;

• Hybrid Seed Corn:

This seed corn results from crossing genetically different parent lines that produce their offspring with desirable qualities such as resistant diseases and yield potential.

• Open-Pollinated Seed Corn:

This type of seed is either wind or insects pollinated. Even though it is the most genetically diversified, its production is lower compared to that of hybrids.

• GMO Seed Corn:

The GMO seed corn or the genetically modified seed corn has designed in such an engineering way so that it possesses some special traits of pest resistance, drought tolerance, or herbicide resistance.

 

Benefits of Using Seed Corn

High grade seed corn enjoys many advantages. Some of which are:

• Increased Yields:

 To enhance on productivity, hybrid and Genetically modified organisms corn is grown at high productivity

• Disease Resistance:

Other seed corn are grown with natural resistance to the pest and disease.

• Uniform Growth: 

Doubled-up growth to maturity at High grade  corn plants

• Tolerance to environmental stresses:

Some extreme temperatures and drought exist in a couple of varieties and more benefits due to the use of high quality seed.

 

Additional Benefits of Using Seed Corn

Other than those advantages identified early, there are pretty several reasons quality seed  be ought to utilize during farming or cultivating;

• Disease Resistancy:

High quality seed corn varieties possess natural or engineered resistance against the prevalent diseases such as rust, blight, and mildew. It reduces the chemicals used. Agriculture tends to be more sustainable and economic. It lets have less pressure of disease, which promotes healthy growth and ripening of the corn plants with lesser loss.

• Better root development:

The improved seed corn varieties are bred with deep, solid root systems that will allow a greater quantity of water and nutrient from a greater portion of the soil. This maximizes the strength of the plant as a whole and makes it easier to survive dry times or less water.

• Better Harvestability:

Seed companies develop certain seed corn varieties to reach maturity at a point optimal for mechanical harvest. This maturity gives them more time and labor input either in hand harvesting or machine harvesting of the crop. Uniform maturity ensures that the whole crop will be mature at its highest content of moisture and makes easy storage possible.

• Uniformity of Crop Performance:

Quality seed would mean predictable crop performance. This would, in turn, lead to uniform yield and growth. Crop management, pest control, and irrigation can easily be achieved; better planning in the market could also be done since crops may be sold or processed at optimum harvest times.

• Greater Nutritional Content:

Other breeding on corn involves selection of any desired cultivars that may enable production of high protein contents in addition to quality starch qualities; thus could be specially targeted towards applications of manufacturing food for food processing or for animals before their biotransformation.

• Greater Resistance to Crop Rotations:

Good seed  increases flexibility in crop rotation.Rotate this crop with others that develop resistance to major pests and diseases to make rotation easier. Reduced formation of soil-residing pests and diseases

• Environmental Sustainability:

Seed corn varieties that are either drought-resistant or pest-tolerant require lesser irrigations and pesticides. The farm operations will also be more eco-friendly since water resources are saved and lesser chemical products run into the water bodies polluting the surrounding sources of water harming the ecosystem.

• Economic Advantages:

In the early stage, obtaining good seed  will be relatively expensive, but later on, one will have his or her benefits far outstrip costs. Higher yields and fewer pest management costs will bring improved harvests thus attracting more benefits among farmers. That can be turned into higher profitability and, as such, makes it worthwhile investment.

• Support for Local Farming Communities:

The use of certified corn will enable the local agricultural industries involved in the production and distribution of high-quality seed, and thus offers an avenue for patronizing local industries that will make genetically superior varieties designed by consideration to regional conditions to local farmers therefore accelerating their economies.

• Less Environmentally Destructive:

In addition to the seed corn, this product may be designed to use less water and, or more strength in the soil. This type of seeds lowers the footprint of farming with the help of sustainable agriculture practice and conservation of natural resources and ecosystems because it matures much faster than any other variety.

•  Faster Maturation:

Seed breeders design certain varieties to mature quickly, suiting them to regions with short growing seasons. This makes it possible for farmers to harvest their crops before frost and other undesirable weather conditions may occur, thereby having higher crop dependability.

This means that the farmers will be able to maximize their output, become more efficient in farming, and generally acquire better sustainable farming practices by choosing the corn variety that is most suitable for the needs of their farm and best suited to their environment’s conditions.

 

How to Choose the Correct Seed Corn

One of the most important pre-harvest stages is the selection of the right seed corn. That depends on several factors:

 

• Climate Suitability:

Select seed varieties suitable for the climatic conditions prevailing in your area, such as temperature, rainfall, and soil type.

• Soil Conditions:

Conduct a soil test to determine the pH levels, nutrient availability, and texture to select the appropriate corn for your farm.

• Resistance Traits:

Select corn varieties that are resistant to the common major pests and diseases prevailing in your locality.

• Available Yield:

Consider the yield available for other corn varieties in view of the demand for the production

• Good Planting Practice on Seed Corn:

A good planting practice offers a better chance at  corn. We summarize good practices as follows:

• Preparation of the soil:

Improve soil fertility by tilling and incorporating organic matter into it.

• Planting Depth and Spacing:

It should be sown at a depth of 1.5 to 2 inches about 8-12 inches leaving space for seed as well as its seedlings with enough space in growth.

• Watering Requirements:

Provide seeds with consistent and equal watering during germination and seedling growth.

• Fertilization:

Use a balanced fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to boost root and shoot growth.

 

Common Pests and Diseases in seed corn

Some of the common seed  issues are the pests and diseases that will rapidly reduce yield as well as the quality.

Pests

 

• Corn Borers:

The larvae eat inside stalks and ears

• Rootworms:

Plant-feeding larvae roots that usually give stunted plants

• Aphids:

Soft-bodied, sap-sucking insects that damage the stem in order to get into the inner sap and enable pathogens to penetrate plants.

 

Diseases

 

• Gray Leaf Spot:

Gray leaf spot, a fungal disease, causes lesions on leaves, earning it the common name leaf blight.

• Anthracnose:

Affects stems and leaves, leading to wilting

• Northern Corn Leaf Blight:

Fungal infection causing elongated lesions.

 

Pest and Diseases Management in Seed Corn

Control pests and diseases for efficient  corn conservation. The methods are;

• Crop rotation:

Grow  corn in intercropping with other crops like soybeans or wheat. This will break the life cycles of most of the pests and diseases.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM):

Use biological controls, cultural practices, and selective chemical treatment in IPM.

• Resistant Varieties:

Obtain seed  that has genetic resistance of major pests and diseases.

 

Seed Corn Harvesting and Storing

A succession of continuous planting seasons depends on seed viability coming from proper harvests and storage of seed .

Harvesting Tips

• Inspect the moisture status of seed-corn to harvest, preferably when moisture content in  corn is reaching nearly 20 to 25 %.
• Correct Harvesting Equipment selection is important not to damage the kernels.
• Avoid harvesting seeds during wet weather to prevent exposure to fungi.

Storage Guidelines

• Store seed in a cold, dry place to achieve maximum germination percentage.
• Store seeds in air-tight containers to keep moisture and pests out.
• Regularly inspect stored seeds to detect any mold or insect damage.

 

Future of Seed Corn

The future of seed corn keeps on changing constantly. This changing trend is due to the development of agricultural technology. A part of such trends includes:

• Precision agriculture:

These methods help data-driven methods in seed planting and crop management.

Biotechnology inventions: Improvements in seed varieties

• Sustainable practices:

This promotes the use of environmentally friendly farming practices that reduce negative impacts.

 

Conclusion

It is very critical in modern agriculture. This implies that corn has many benefits to the farmers and the food production systems. If you are aware of the type, the planting technique, the pest management method, and how to store the seeds, then you will be able to harvest the best  corn yield for your farm operations. It makes no difference whether you’re planting for profit or to feed your family.What matters is that you are selecting the proper seed , and the methods applied will have a high-yielding successful harvest for you.