The Growers Program And Corn
In growing corn, which is a grass crop, we see many farmers using large amounts of fertility products- nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium- trying to obtain yields that may be beyond the farms capabilities. With these excessive fertility inputs, the resulting plant tissue becomes imbalanced with various elements which , in our experience, leads to problems for both crop and livedstock farmers. For example, high levels of nitrogen and potassium in corn can result in high water retention within the plant cell, leading to the exclusion of calcium or other essential elements from its tissue. This opens up the plant to various bacterial and fungal infections involving the root, stalk, and ear. Additionally, when corn is harvested as silage for livestock, excess nitrogen and potassium can cause accumulations of these elements in the systems of the consuming animals, thus creating animal health problems.These nutient excesses may create larger corn crops, but its reduced quality and resulting problems lower the total profit. By using the Growers Program. high calcium liming products and GMS, we believe farmers can achieve corn yields with better tissue qualities and feed value, thus leading to better profits for both cash crop and livestock farms
The corn plants first stress period occurs ay grmination, and can be further aggravated by cold, wet soils. By applying GNS directly on the seed, the farmer is placing a balanced load of nutrition in the seedbed. High quality raw materials in GMS allow it to be applied directly on the seed, and, being in liquid form, greatly helps improve nutrient absorption. By comparison, most fertilizers are toxic and must be buffered by the soil to prevent injury to the seed or newly germinated plant. They are placed in a standard 2 by 2 (2 inches beside the seed and 2 inches below the seed ) band configuration.A disadvantage of banding is that in 10 days only a few side roots have access to the fertility, while the majority will grow down missing the band.GMS flows through a drop tube located about 2" behind the seed drop into the seed trench before the soil is closed in around the seed. GMS can be supplied from the tanks mounted either on the tractor or planter and can be moved to the drop pipes by squeeze pump, piston pump, centrifugal pump, roller pump or gravity. GMS application rates to the seed are controlled by using appropriate flow regulators sized for pressure and speed.
A corn plant's second stress period occurs during its maximum growth stage, which is from the V4 stage(about 10 inches tall) until pretassel.This is the best time to foliar spray corn to receive maximum plant response. Foliar applications of GMS can enhance yields, improve plant quality, hasten maturity, and reduce moisture content at harvest. Many farmers find that foliar feeding is also a very effective tool during periods of environmental stress such as drought or excess rainfall. In these situations, plant roots often have been injured and do not take up nutrition properly. Putting nutrients into the plant through foliar absorption will usually help overcome stress problems.Foliar sprays should be applied in the early morning, late afternoon (evening) , or on foggy or overcst days. Plants will not absorb minerals through foliage during the heat of the day or in bright sunlight. Foliar sprays are generally applied by ground equipment utilizing boom sprayers , mist blowers, and highboy sprayers. Some applications, however, are made by helicoptors or spray planes. The usual GMS foliar application rate for corn is two gallons per acre, however, the rate could vary from two quarts to four gallons per acre depending on the conditions. the circumstances governing the rates would be:the programmed number of applications during the season, single or multiple sprays, the size of the plant, past applications, weather. plant population. solution dilution, etc.
FOR LIVESTOCK
When corn is to be used as livestock feed, it is very important to apply foliar nutrition at least twice before taseling. This is to further improve yield and plant tissuequality essential for animals, whether they will eventually consume the entire plant or just the grain.
FOR CASH CROP
Cash market corn should receive at least one foliar spray to help with productivity, to aid plant growth in times of stress, and to help ensure the plant is pushed along to timely maturation. Foliar feeding helps dry excess watery growth, usually the result of too much nitrogen. In addition, foliar feeding can improve the density of grain (test weight) which helps gain higher prices
Combining Seed & Foliar Feeding
The combination of seed and foliar applications of GMS is highly recommended over one or the other,whether each application consists of GMS alone or in combination with other commercial fertilizers. The generally recommended combined amount of GMS for seed and foliar use is as follows:
For plant populations of 16,000 to 20,000 plants/acre use 6 gallons of GMS /acre
FOR EVERY 4000 PLANTS/ACRE ABOVE 20,000 PLANTS /ACRE, USE AND ADDITIONAL 1 GALLON /ACRE OF gms