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The second corn crop in 2016 start-
ed with promising perspectives, in par-
ticular because the farmers were feel-
ing motivated, inducing them to increase
the planted area and expand the plant-
ing period. They bought high technology
seeds, treated these seeds against worms
and bugs, kept weeds under control and
got prepared for two or more fungicide
applications. However, adverse weather
conditions and the lack of rain resulted
into dry cornfields, obviously jeopardiz-
ing the development of the plants.
When this occurs, it normally triggers
a series of physiological factors. According
to agronomic engineer Danilo Belia Kashi-
wakura, Strategic Corn Marketing manag-
er at Bayer, one of the factors is an increase
of abscisic acid, hormone responsible for
closing the stomas, thus reducing the
plant’s evapotranspiration process and, as
a consequence, its productive potential.
The specialist explains that now there
is technology available for reaching the
highest production levels, but everything
starts at planting, regardless of the techno-
logical level in place. “It is important for
the farmers to take some measures, like
planting in duly prepared areas, protect
the seed and uniform plant distribution.
The protection provided by Bt technology,
the management of resistant weeds with
the use of residual herbicides and new
fungicides are also among the available so-
lutions”, he says.
Building physically appropriate soil,
chemically corrected and biologically active
is of fundamental importance for the suc-
cess of a crop. “Knowing that the question
of water availability has turned into an ev-
er-increasing concern for the farmers, one
of the alternatives consists in appropri-
ate soil preparation, whereby the roots go
deep into the ground in search of water”,
he stresses. “An example is the use of plants
with a high capacity to develop a massive
root system in fallow fields, like brachiara
grass, for maintaining the soil physically
and biologically. Another measure consists
in proper corn fertilization for building a
higher production potential, equally with
an eye towards the nutrient cycling process
In the heights
Research works and new technologies lead to high corn productivity,
but farmers equally need to do their part, starting at planting
and fertility improvement.”
Even if higher investments are made, it
is important to pay heed to good crop es-
tablishment, like seed distribution unifor-
mity, with failures reduced to a minimum,
whilst preventing the occurrence of dou-
ble plants. To this end, anticipated desic-
cation (15 to 18 days, at least), planting
speed, adjustment of the planter and seed
treatment are necessary steps.
