Corn can be grown using conventional cultivation, reduced tillage, polyculture, and storage methods, with crop rotations used for soil maintenance. Local conditions affect the best method, and some maize species are better suited to drought. Conventional agriculture uses chemicals to control pests and weeds, but has poor erosion and moisture control. Conservation agriculture retains most of the existing soil and moisture, making it better for areas with erosion problems. Reduced tillage practices break up some weeds and plant material, and are best for small-scale farming. Polyculture planting reduces weeds and pests by planting multiple species in the same plot.
The best methods of growing corn are conventional cultivation, storage, reduced tillage, and polyculture. In most types of corn production, crop rotations are used to maintain the soil over a long period. One of the challenges of growing corn is that the best growing methods usually depend on local conditions. Some maize species are better suited to drought conditions, for example, and may grow better in an area with frequent droughts. The complexity of sustainably growing corn means that the best method for one area may be ineffective or harmful in another.
Conventional agriculture uses a plow or plow to remove nearly all plant material except the corn crop. Weeds and pests are often controlled with chemicals. Hybrid and GM corn varieties mean that conventional corn cultivation can produce high yields in small areas. This method of growing corn, however, is not always considered the best, because it has poor erosion and moisture control, and one of the best ways to control erosion and moisture is very different from conventional agriculture.
Conservation agriculture, in its most extreme form, often leaves behind all existing topsoil or sod. The rows are usually cut into the ground and fertilizer is usually applied to the openings. The seeds are then planted in rows and grow out of the openings. This method of growing maize is often considered the best in areas with erosion problems, because it retains most of the existing soil. Moisture is also retained in conservation agriculture, which often makes it better in areas with minimal rainfall.
The reduced tillage practices are similar to conservation agriculture, the main difference being that some of the weeds and plant material are broken up into the soil. Some of the original sod remained, mainly between the rows. Burning of plant material left over from crop plants and working the ash into the soil is also used in reduced tillage practices to return some nutrients to the soil. This method of growing corn is often considered the best for small-scale farming.
Polyculture planting usually attempts to reduce weeds and pests by planting multiple species in the same plot. Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil, such as many types of beans, can be added to a cornfield. An example of a polyculture plantation exists in a Native American farming practice known as the Three Sisters. Corn, beans and squash are planted in the same area. Corn would provide a place for beans to grow, beans could return nitrogen to the soil, and squash could cover the soil to hold soil and moisture.
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