A Visual and Practical Guide to Staging Corn Growth
Summary of what you'll find
Producing consistently high-yielding, quality corn requires a strong understanding of corn’s growth stages, how it behaves at each stage of development, and what management and inputs are required for each.
A new corn development guide from the University of Wisconsin was designed to help you better manage your corn production and make more timely and effective management decisions.
The new resource offers a clear, stage-by-stage visual breakdown of corn’s growth stages to help you better track its development from emergence to maturity.
The Main Stages of Corn Growth
Corn development is divided into two main stages: vegetative and reproductive. The vegetative stages set the foundation for the crop’s root system and plant size. Early stages of vegetative growth only require a small amount of nutrients (i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) for growth while nutrient demand accelerates considerably during the middle and late vegetative growth stages. After vegetative growth, reproductive stages develop the crop yield and require large amounts of nutrients and adequate soil moisture throughout each stage.
A Stage-By-Stage Guide
From the development of root systems and leaf collar emergence to reproductive timing and yield determinants, the new guide gives you a comprehensive look at how corn progresses and how you can better manage your crop. You’ll find diagrams and images that illustrate each phase of corn growth to help you better identify them in your field.
The guide also explores growth staging tips, management implications and important considerations for each stage of production including soil moisture, proper nitrogen application timing, and adequate nutrient availability.
The guide is a fantastic tool to keep in your back pocket to make more informed in-season decisions throughout production. You can download the guide here to include in your toolbox this season.
Learn more about corn’s growth stages and explore sound management practices you can implement this season with the following eKonomics resources:
Corn Nutrient Management Guide
Corn Development and Growth Staging
Phosphorus On Corn For Success
