Growing and processing corn for grain

The agricultural industry supplies the market with raw materials for food production. Corn is a high-yielding crop, the grains of which are used for food and technical purposes. Growing the plant is not difficult. Harvesting corn for grain, features of growing, drying, cleaning and storage are described below.

Place of corn in crop rotation

The yield of a crop can fall or rise depending on the condition of the soil, its vitamin content, humidity, and predecessors. Corn is a drought-resistant plant, but to obtain an average yield of 8 t/ha, 450–600 mm of precipitation is needed during harvesting.

Corn produces little grain after crops that dry out the soil:

• sunflower;
• sorghum;
• sugar beets.

In dry areas, recommended corn precursors for grain:

• winter wheat;
• pulses;
• potato;
• buckwheat;
• spring grains;
• mustard;
• rape;
• coriander.

Thanks to modern technologies, corn can be grown as a monoculture for 2 - 3 years in a row in one place, and in fertile soils with high rainfall - for 4 - 5 seasons.

Preparing corn grains for planting

The processing of seed material is carried out by special enterprises - corn processing plants, where grains, after undergoing special technological processes, can be immediately planted in the ground. If it is not possible to deliver the corn to the enterprise, then you will need to prepare it yourself.

Grain required:

• calibrate;
• etch.

Calibration - separating seeds by size, is carried out to separate large samples that may get stuck in the hole of the seeding combine from small corn. Next, the grains are subjected to solar or air-thermal heating for a week to accelerate germination.

Dressing is carried out to increase the protective properties of seeds between sowing and germination. Grains that have absorbed water have an alkaline environment, so they become a breeding ground for fungi in the ground. The fungicide creates a protective film that prevents the development of diseases before germination.

To process seed material use:

1. Insecticides.
2. Fungicides.
3. A mixture of the first and second types.

Drugs and their recommended dosage:

• Thiram - with the active substance Thiram 4 l/t;
• TMTD - with active ingredient Thiram 2 l/t;
• Aatiram - with active substance Thiram 3 kg/t;
• TMTD98%Satek - with active ingredient Thiram 2 kg/t;
• Vitavax - with the active substance Carboxim + thiram 3 l/t;
• Vitatiuram - with the active ingredient Carboxim + thiram 2-3 l/t;
• Maxim Gold AP - with the active substance Fludioxonil + mefenoxam 1 l/t.

Sowing corn for grain

The time for planting seeds is determined by weather conditions, weediness of the field, early maturity of the variety and soil temperature, which at a depth of 10 cm should warm up to 10 - 12 ° C. Cold-resistant crops are planted at a temperature of 8–10 °C. Sowing corn for grain is carried out in a dotted manner using tractors.

Density and seeding rate of corn for grain

Seed material is introduced into the ground in early spring, most often from May 1 to May 15. The sowing density per hectare depends on the fertility of the land, the amount of precipitation, germination and other parameters. Average rate with standard technology for growing corn for grain:

• in arid areas: 20 - 25 thousand;
• in the steppe and forest-steppe zone: 30 - 40 thousand;
• with regular watering: 40 - 60 thousand;
• in the southern regions on irrigated soil: 50 - 55 thousand.

The quantitative expression of sowing density is 15 - 22 pcs. for every 3 linear meters, and in weight terms - 20 - 30 kg per hectare. If field germination is poor, the rate is increased by 10 - 15%. The planting depth is 5 - 7 cm, in dry soil - 12 - 13 cm. Row spacing should be at least 70 cm.

Standing density of corn before harvest, expressed in thousands of plants per hectare.

Corn fertilizer for grain

Corn extracts 24 - 30 kg of nitrogen, 10 - 12 kg of phosphorus, 25 - 30 kg of potassium when forming 1 ton of grain, so it is necessary to replenish the elements or add them if there is a shortage. Fertilizing rate: N – 60 kg, P- 60 – 90 kg, K – 40 – 60 kg. Fertilizers for corn are applied to grain carefully, because a lack of nitrogen reduces the yield, and its excess delays ripening.

Before autumn plowing, rotted manure, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and half of the nitrogen-containing substance are added. They are evenly distributed over the field using rotary spreaders, and for small field volumes - manually.

Pre-sowing feeding of corn for grain has a good effect on growth and productivity. Superphosphate is added to the soil with the seeds. It should be 3 - 5 cm deeper than the seed and 2 - 3 cm further so as not to damage the sprouts.

During primary and secondary treatment of row spacing, the second half of nitrogen fertilizers is applied. To increase the protein content, it is necessary to foliar spray with 30% urea before harvesting.

Stages of corn ripeness

The grains ripen gradually, becoming harder at each stage. There are 5 stages of ripeness:

• dairy;
• early wax;
• late wax;
• glassy;
• complete.

Timing for harvesting corn for grain

The crop is ready for mowing when 65 - 70% of the ears reach waxy maturity. There are two ways to harvest corn:

1. On the cob, the percentage of moisture in the seeds is no more than 40%.
2. In grains with a moisture content of 32%.

Corn harvesting is done by corn harvesters, or cob harvesters, as they are also called. For threshing, stream headers are used - special attachments to grain harvesting equipment, which clear the seeds from the cobs during harvesting.

Technology for harvesting corn for grain

All types of combine harvesters with tangential or axial threshing devices are used. The quality of corn harvesting is affected by two indicators:

• equipment movement diagram;
• level of quality.

The serviceability of the combine is checked before entering the field. Unloading equipment is also subject to thorough inspection.

Movement diagram of grain harvesters

It is recommended to carry out cleaning in the same direction in which it was planted. Before the combine is used, the field is mowed around the perimeter and divided into paddocks, starting from the joint row spacing. There are 2 ways to harvest corn for grain:

• rut;
• circular.

The latter movement pattern is used in small fields.

Scheme of the rut harvesting method:

1, 2, 3 – pens, C – width.

The productivity of a grain harvester with a six-row corn attachment is 1.2 - 1.5 ha/h. The indicator depends on the time spent on loading - when pouring onto a cart, the value is higher than when traveling to the edge of the field.

You can see how corn is harvested for grain in the video:

Combine harvester quality indicator

Corn harvesting equipment does not always work well. The quality of crop harvesting can be assessed by the following indicators:

• grain loss;
• cutting height;
• cleaning;
• number of damaged ears.

To determine the quality of work, you need to collect seeds and ears on an area of ​​10 square meters. m - 3 times. Knowing the crop yield and weighing the collected residues, determine the amount of losses as a percentage.

Processing corn after harvesting

Wet grains with debris are not stored for a long time, so before being sent to the hangar, they are cleaned of foreign plant debris and then dried. Feed grains are not stored for long, so the moisture content in them is higher than in seeds intended for planting.

Cleaning

To remove unwanted impurities, corn is passed through cleaning units. They come in 5 types according to the way they work:

• air;
• air-sieve;
• separators;
• trier installations;
• pneumogravity tables.

In the units, seeds undergo 3 degrees of purification:

1. Primary: to remove weeds, leftover leaves and other debris.
2. Primary: to separate excess impurities.
3. Secondary: for sorting by fractions.

Drying

After harvesting, the grain is wet and contains many mineral and organic impurities, so it is poorly stored. Further processing of corn involves separating the seeds into categories based on moisture content. With a humidity of 14 - 15% they are sent to storage immediately, at 15.5 - 17% - for drying and ventilation, with a high percentage of water - to the drying chamber.

There are several types of drying units:

• mine;
• core;
• bunkers.

Drying units by technological operating mode:

1. Straight-through. They reduce grain moisture by 5 - 8%, but require uniformity of the material.
2. Recirculation. They do not require the same moisture content of corn, they dry better.

To make moisture evaporate faster, use different drying modes:

• with preheating;
• with alternating heating and cooling;
• with mild temperature conditions.

Storing dry corn grain

After harvesting, cleaning and drying, the seeds are sent to storage. Corn for compound feed is stored with a grain moisture content of 15 - 16%, for food production - 14 - 15%. To ensure that the seed does not deteriorate during the year, it must be dried to 13 - 14%; for more than a year - to 12 - 13%.

Storage of corn for grain for technical, food, and feed purposes is carried out in grain warehouses and bulk bunkers.The height of the heap is limited only by the roof of the storage facility, the convenience of quality control and maintenance. During storage, the room must be cleaned regularly.

Conclusion

Corn is harvested for grain when it reaches waxy maturity. Corn harvesters harvest the cobs or thresh them directly. Harvesting is carried out at the stage of wax maturity of the crop. Store grain in a dry, well-ventilated room after cleaning and drying.

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