Cause Analysis and Preventive measures of Multi-ear phenomenon in Maize

Multi-spike corn

In recent years, the phenomenon of multiple ears occurs frequently in maize production, the occurrence area is different in different years, different regions and different varieties, and the occurrence degree is also different in the same region and different varieties. The phenomenon of multiple ears caused varying degrees of losses to maize production. The main reasons are as follows:

First, there are axillary buds in the leaf axils of each node in the lower part of maize, that is, the primordia of female spikes. if the external conditions are suitable, it is possible to form ears, but usually the axillary buds of the upper 6 ~ 8 nodes can develop fruiting ears.

Second, abnormal climatic conditions can easily lead to spikes. Corn originates from the tropics and belongs to short-day crops. Under abnormal climatic conditions, especially in the stage of female and male ear differentiation, such as continuous overcast and rain, insufficient light, malnutrition, poor silking of female ear or abnormal pollination of male ear, the pollination is affected, and the first ear can not be formed normally. Therefore, the surplus nutrition supplies the next ear development, if the second ear still does not get normal pollination, and the nutrition supplies the next ear development, even if the ear development is normal in the later stage, there is no pollen in the field. Therefore, the phenomenon of multi-spike is formed.

Third, excessive fertilizer and water in the stage of ear development is also one of the reasons for the formation of multiple ears in corn. In the stage of female ear development of maize, if the supply of water and fertilizer is too sufficient and too many nutrients make it impossible for the plant to consume, it is possible to form multiple ears.

Fourth, diseases and insect pests. Corn borer, aphids and corn leaf spot disease will also affect the normal formation of corn ears, resulting in multi-ear phenomenon.

Fifth, the difference between varieties. Different varieties require different cultivation conditions. Extensive management is also easy to cause multi-spikes, so reasonable cultivation measures should be determined according to the characteristics of varieties.