Sown corn? Check field attendance in time

To ensure good and even development of the maize crop, sufficient planting density and therefore good field emergence are essential. However, in the period from sowing to emergence, many factors can disrupt the germination process and field emergence. It is therefore important to keep a close eye on the progress on the corn plot.

The right time to check field emergence is about fourteen days after the day of sowing. The corn should have come up by then. If this is not the case or if there is only poor emergence, then over-sowing can still be done. If you only notice poor emergence later, then there is almost always no point in reseeding or overseeding, resulting in disappointing yields.

This is how you check field attendance
You can easily check the emergence of the number of corn plants per hectare. Measure out 13,3 meters in a row, count the number of plants within this distance and multiply this number by 1.000. This way you quickly know whether enough corn plants have emerged. As soon as problems in the field emergence are observed, it is important to distinguish between emergence problems that occur on a spot basis or on a full field basis.

If there is loss of plants and/or seeds that have not germinated, this does not necessarily have to be a problem. It must be a 'regular irregularity': the appearance of a plant missing here and there. In this case, do not move too quickly to over-sowing or re-sowing. This entails additional costs, while it is not guaranteed to result in a higher yield and/or better quality.

Possible causes of localized poor field emergence
If the problem occurs on a localized basis, it will most likely not be due to the corn seed quality. However, this can be caused by one or more of the following circumstances:

1. Soil problems due to, for example, wet spots, compaction and/or ruts.
2. Large temperature differences on drier, light soils, resulting in too low a germination temperature.
3. Differences in water availability in the seedbed (capillarity).
4. Bird damage by crows, jackdaws, pigeons or pheasants.
5. Damage from wireworms. We see this especially in young plants. If a plant remains in the germination stage for a long time due to circumstances, the wireworm has more time to feed on the young crop.

Possible causes of full-field attendance problems
If more than 15% of the seedlings are missing, we can speak of insufficient field emergence. Something that can have various causes:

1. Seeds are not found because incorrect seed discs have been used, the scrapers on the seed disc have been set incorrectly or the wrong air pressure has been applied. In this case, corn seed is left over after sowing.
2. Seedlings are missing because:
   • Salt damage (burning) occurs due to inaccurately applied starter fertilizers during row fertilization
   • The corn seed has been plucked by pheasants, geese, pigeons or crows
     Tip: to limit or prevent this, use the seed treatment INITIO BirdPROTECT, which combines effective protection with the right ingredients for smooth germination
   • Damage caused by hoeing and/or weeding (too deep and/or at the wrong time)
   • Flooding leads to rotting of the seed in overly compacted tramlines
   • The seed has been sown too shallow or the corn seed has not even been covered with soil
3. A wave-shaped emergence in which seedlings develop irregularly, due to:
   • An uneven seeding depth
   • A seedbed that is not level due to incorrect sowing preparation
   • Irregular moisture supply in the seedbed
4. Seedlings develop very differently by:
   • An inadequate germination water supply, which is often caused by a seedbed that is too loose
   • A disrupted water connection caused by a cloddy seedbed
   • Sowing the corn seeds too deeply (deeper than 7 cm)
   • Lack of air or oxygen caused by clogging and/or flooding
   • Consumption damage
   • Mold formation
   • A long lying time of non-germinated or germinating grains in wet, cold soil
   • Many weak plants after rolling the seeds (driving speed too high, stubby sowing coulters)
5. Non-germinated seeds and abnormal seedlings, due to:
   • Unfavorable germination conditions, such as drought and cold
   • A coarsely lumpy seedbed caused by a disturbed water connection
   • Interruption of the germination process due to, for example, a cold wave, which leads to an increased risk of attack by aggressive soil fungi
   • Too little germination water due to poor capillarity of the root bed and/or drought
   • The use of leftover corn seed from the previous year that has been stored under the wrong conditions (unfavorable temperature and/or humidity). In addition, remember that corn seed treatment, especially after long-term storage, can have a negative impact on germination
   • Lack of germination of the seed
   • Inadequate seed germination percentage

PLEASE NOTE: any problems that may be due to the corn seed can only be checked if you know which corn seed batch it concerns. Therefore, always keep the labels of the seed used until the end of the season.

Not sown yet?
If you have not yet been able to sow, choose a very early corn variety with an FAO up to 210, such as KWS Nevo (FAO 180) and Papageno (FAO 200). Because these varieties require fewer growing days, they mature well in a shorter time, meaning that a massive and ripe crop can be harvested in September on various soil types.

Do you have any doubts or questions about the field attendance on your plot?
For information, contact your KWS advisor!

This business case is powered by: