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Overview

One of the main reasons that corn is such a productive and versatile crop is that it has excellent yield potential compared to many other crops. In addition to this reasonably consistent yield, it has a wide range of uses and value-added production options meaning it is an economical crop to grow. Corn can be used for food as corn flour, cornmeal, grits or sweet corn. It can be used as animal feed to help fatten chickens and livestock. And it can be turned into the fuel source ethanol, high-fructose corn syrup, or even used in bio-plastics.

Corn should be planted once the likelihood of frost is over and the soil temperature has warmed as it needs warm, sunny weather. The kernels will not set, especially on the tip of the cobs, if conditions are too hot or cold and windy at silking. Hot conditions will hasten maturity making the sugar in the kernels turn to starch, and with this the quality of the corn deteriorates rapidly. The corn crop needs adequate moisture throughout the growing season, however waterlogging should be avoided.

RLF has a wide range of Specialty Liquid Fertiliser products for corn. RLF Specialty Liquid Fertiliser products deliver a complete and balanced nutrient package that enables corn production to remain healthy and high yielding. These products may be from the seed priming, broad-spectrum, crop-specific or single element nutrient ranges and all give the corn crop the nutritional power and protection it needs.

Fast Facts

  • Corn originated from the middle-Americas and was commonly cultivated by the Mayans. It is believed that corn has been traded since about 2500BC based on old trade networks dealing with surplus crops.
  • Sugar-rich varieties of corn are usually grown for human consumption, while field corn varieties are used for livestock.
  • The corn plant often grows to 2.5m in height though some natural strains grow much taller. The stem has the appearance of a bamboo cane and is commonly composed of 20 internodes 18cm in length. A leaf then grows from each node and ears develop along the midsection of the plant.
  • Certain varieties of corn have been bred to produce many additional developed ears. These are the source of the ‘baby corn’ used as a vegetable in Asian cooking.
  • In temperate zones corn must always be planted in spring as it is cold-intolerant and its root system is generally shallow, therefore dependent upon soil moisture.
  • Maize and cornmeal (ground dried maize) is the staple food in many regions of the world. Corn is central to Mexican food and it is used in virtually every dish as tortillas, tamales, tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas.
  • Popcorn is corn’s most popular snack food in the developed world, however there are many variations on the theme of exploding kernels when heated in other countries
    and cultures.
  • The use of corn for bio-fuels increases its demand and therefore the price of corn. This has resulted in farm acreage being diverted from some food crops to corn production.
  • Continuing efforts towards crop nutritional modern fertiliser practices will bring about better yield and health outcomes for corn.
  • The world’s top 10 corn growing countries are responsible for nearly 86% of world production. In 2016 these countries were USA (37.5%), China (20.9%), Brazil (8.1%), European Union (5.8%), Argentina (3.5%), Ukraine (2.6%), India (2.3%), Mexico (2.3%), Russia (1.4%), South Africa (1.2%). Rest of the
    World (14.4%)
  • It is estimated that the USA has 35 million hectares under cultivation for corn and it accounts for almost 40% of the world’s total market.

Top Producers

RLF Products for Corn Crops

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