How to Pollinate Corn Stalk Plant:
Increase Your Yield

Corn is one of the most important staple crops in the world. It is consumed by millions of people across the globe, and its importance cannot be overemphasized. One of the significant challenges of growing corn is pollination. Corn plants require pollination to produce ears, which ultimately translates to yield. In this article, we will walk you through how to pollinate corn stalk plants and increase your yield.

Understanding Corn Pollination

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male flower to the female flower. In corn plants, the male flower is located at the top of the plant in a structure called tassel. The female flower, on the other hand, is located on the ear or cob. The pollen from the tassel must land on the silk of the ear for successful pollination to occur.

Corn plants are pollinated by wind or insects, particularly bees. Wind pollination is not always reliable because it’s affected by weather conditions such as drought or rain. Bees are also not particularly attracted to corn flowers hence their low efficacy in corn pollination. As a result, corn growers must often resort to manual pollination to increase their yield.

How To Pollinate Corn Stalk Plant

Manual pollination may sound daunting, but it’s relatively easy and straightforward. Here are some easy steps to follow:

1. Identify when your corn plants are ready for pollination: Corn plants are ready for pollination when they start producing silks. Silks look like long hair strands that protrude out from the ear.

2. Collect pollen: Collect pollen from the tassel by tapping it gently over a paper bag.

3. Apply pollen to silk: Using a small brush or your fingers, apply pollen collected from step two onto each silk strand.

4. Repeat process: Repeat step three until all silks have been coated with pollen.

5. Check for pollination: A week after manual pollination, check for successful pollination by inspecting the silks. Pollinated silks will start to wilt and turn brown.

Benefits of Manual Pollination

Manual pollination offers several benefits to corn growers, including:

1. Increased yield: Manual pollination increases yield because it ensures that all ears are pollinated, resulting in more ears and ultimately more corn.

2. Consistency: Manual pollination is consistent, unlike wind or insect pollination, which can be affected by weather or other factors.

3. Early harvest: Since manual pollination guarantees successful pollination, it reduces the time corn plants take to mature, leading to an earlier harvest.

FAQs

1. When is the best time to perform manual corn pollination?

The best time to perform manual corn pollination is when the silk appears on the ear.

2. How many times should I pollinate my corn plants?

You should repeat the process of applying pollen until all silk strands have been coated with pollen.

3. How can I tell if I have successfully manually pollinated my corn plants?

You can tell if you have successfully manually pollinated your corn plants by observing the silks after a week. Pollinated silks will start to wilt and turn brown.

4. Can I still rely on wind or insect pollination after manual pollination?

Yes, you can still rely on wind or insect pollination after manual pollination. However, manual pollination ensures maximum yield.

In conclusion, manual pollination is an essential technique for increasing yield in corn plants. It may take a little bit of extra effort, but the rewards are well worth it. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your corn plants are adequately pollinated and ultimately increase your yield.