Corn is considered a spring crop that is required from the seeding stage to the harvest, whether the goal of the corn crop is to produce grains or to obtain the entire plant as silage fodder.

 The weaning stage, which is the transition from feeding on the seed to the development of roots, is considered essential for achieving high production of corn, which is rich in energy sources.

The good development of the rootstock of the corn plant is considered essential, regardless of the early seed varieties used or the climatic conditions specific to each region or soil type, as well as the corn plants must benefit from mineral elements during the development of the primary roots in order to meet their needs at the appropriate time.

Corn cultivation

To ensure high production of corn when planting it, the maximum amount of bioavailability of phosphorus must be achieved in the areas near the roots. When planting corn, there are procedures that the farmer must implement, which are part of the important agricultural practices in and from the field of corn cultivation:

• Making phosphorus biologically available to plants. This phosphorus is naturally present in the soil.
• Follow the local fertilization of fine fertilizers, as the fertilization must be compatible with the needs of the plants.
• Working to combat soil acidity, the presence of which greatly affects the growth of the corn crop, as it hinders the micro and macro elements and reduces the biological activity of the soil.
• It is preferable to grow corn plants in tropical, sub-tropical, and warm regions in order to expose them to the greatest amount of solar radiation that corn needs to grow, as its growth process requires deep, fertile, warm soil with good water drainage.
• The soil pH must range between 6 -8.6
•  sufficient moisture must be present and it must be located in large areas where the winds provide the necessary pollination process.

Yellow corn cultivation

Yellow corn is considered one of the most important global agricultural crops, its economic importance comes from being a useful food for humans on the one hand and fodder for animals on the other hand.

Corn has nutritional benefits for the body that make the purpose of its cultivation necessary. As for yellow corn, it is the third most important plant in the world. It belongs to the Naama family and reaches a height of between 6-8 feet.

Some scholars agree that the first place where yellow corn was grown was Mexico, and then it moved to the United States after the Native Americans brought it to the Mississippi River.

The main season for growing yellow corn is the fall. It is also grown in the summer months of May and April. Corn can be planted in the spring, but it should be avoided in the winter as it does not tolerate frost.

The quality of corn yields is due to many reasons, such as reduced incidence of agricultural pests and diseases and improved management Water.

The method of growing yellow corn from seeds is as follows:

1. A hole is dug to a depth of 1-2 inches.
2. Bring good seeds and place two to three seeds in each hole.
3. The wool should be at a distance of 30 -36 cm.
4. Put organic fertilizer in the soil.
5. Feeding the soil with nitrogen-rich food during the start of the corn growth process,  this feeding increases the germination rate.
6. Irrigating the land immediately after completing the cultivation process.

Corn cultivation date

The date of planting corn varies each year due to weather factors, but the optimal planting dates are from April 15 to May 25. At this date, you will achieve about 95% or more of the maximum potential for good corn production.

Delaying planting beyond the stated date can lead to an average decrease in yield of about 1% for each late day in May.

The planting date must be postponed if the weather is cold, as it will cause soil temperatures to drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit at the level of 2 inches of soil.

Corn should be planted when the temperature and humidity are suitable for seed germination and seedling growth. The soil temperature in the seed area should be about 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher before planting begins.

Seed germination is rapid at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and slow at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If moisture is sufficient, germination will occur within seven days or less. Soil moisture often causes a delay in planting. Also, if dry weather continues in spring planting, there is a possibility that soil moisture will be an obstacle to planting Agriculture.

Levantine maize cultivation

The sorghum crop is considered one of the most important strategic grain crops, sorghum is used at a rate of up to 40% in the concentrated fodder that animals feed on to produce milk and red meat. It is also included at a rate of 60 to 70% in the manufacture of fodder for birds, poultry, and fish. It has also an important role in some industries, such as  Oils, glucose and starch.

The most suitable time for planting maize is during the month of May until mid-June. Early planting during the month of May allows the maize plants to grow well and reduces their infection by pests, but delaying after mid-June causes a clear decrease in crop productivity.

Regarding cultivation methods, it is preferable to plant maize in rows using modern agricultural machines, and the distances between the lines are set at 65 to 70 cm, and the planting distances are set at 20 to 25 cm.

The most important features of this method are the uniformity of plant growth and the high germination rate, in addition to ensuring the uniform distribution of grains in the soil.

In the case of drip farming, the planting distances are according to the design of the grid and the distance between the dots, so that the number of plants per square meter is five plants.

In the case of manual cultivation, planting is done at the same distances as before, taking care to place the corn grain at a depth of 5 cm and cover it, then irrigation is done until the ground is completely absorbed with water.

How to grow corn

Corn is grown in more than one way, and the most famous of these methods is planting in newly plowed beds raised above ground level. These beds are created in the period between the fall and the beginning of the spring, which creates the possibility of planting the corn crop early.

The soil of these beds may warm up faster at the beginning of the spring, and it has a good ability to drain heavy rainwater, in addition to the possibility of removing the upper part of it, which helps in reaching the moist layer and cultivating in it, even in cases of drought that occur during the spring.

There is another method that farmers rely on without prior plowing of the soil. It is an economically feasible method,  it is possible to benefit from the bedding of previous seasons if it has not been plowed up by heavy rains or disposed of after harvesting operations.

What distinguishes these beds is the consistent surface through which the remains of the previous crop can be removed and the harmful weeds present in them can be eliminated using herbicides before starting the new planting process.

 These beds provide the appropriate depth for planting seeds, the compact, cohesive soil in their layers contributes to increasing the production of the corn crop on the one hand and controlling the cultivation process on the other hand.

In order to ensure an abundant harvest when planting, it is necessary to:

• Verify that the seed rate planted is the required and sufficient rate,  this depends on the size and type of seeds, knowing whether they have been treated or not, in addition to the surface roughness.
• Check where the seeds are placed and the distances between them.
• Adjusting the speed of the seed where increasing the speed inappropriately leads to an increase in the possibility of spacing between the seeds, which leads to a difference in the distances between them and thus reduces productivity in the corn crop. Therefore, corn seeds must be planted at uniform dimensions and to ensure that the farmer obtains the most productivity from the corn crop.

Sorghum cultivation

Sorghum is one of the important summer grain crops after rice and maize. The importance of sorghum as a grain is due to it being a food crop for humans, especially in rural communities. It also contributes mainly to the poultry and animal feed industry. Sorghum flour is mixed at a rate of 20% with wheat flour, which helps reduce the import of wheat flour From outside.

Red sorghum grains are used in dye extraction and beer industries, and the long stalks of sorghum are used for fuel and in building windbreaks and fences.

It is grown in subtropical regions in very hot and dry areas that are not suitable for producing Levantine seeds.

The continent of Asia is considered the leader in the production of sorghum grains in terms of cultivated area, and India is the largest producing country of this crop in Asia in terms of area and total production where the cultivated area in the continent of Asia amounts to 34% of the total cultivated area in the world, of which we add India, 78%, then comes Africa Come North and Central America.

It is preferable to plant sorghum during the months of May and June, when the weather conditions for the plant’s growth are suitable and it avoids infection with many diseases.

 Its cultivation is widespread in newly reclaimed lands because of its ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as salinity, drought, and high temperature.

White corn cultivation

Sorghum originated in Sudan, Egypt, Iraq and India and is considered one of the important food and fodder crops in feeding the livestock sector as grains or fodder and in the silage industry.

It is also a raw material for the extraction of cellulose and starch and the manufacture of alcohol. Perhaps its importance to the Arab world lies in its tolerance to drought and its cultivation in areas with limited rainfall, such as Jordan, as a summer crop, knowing that most of the agricultural lands in Jordan fall within the rates of 200-300 mm annually.

White corn thrives in dry weather and is greatly affected by frost, especially at the time of flowering. Therefore, it is grown as a summer crop after the end of the frost period.

White corn is grown in central and southern Iraq in late March and mid-April, while in northern Iraq it is grown from the beginning to the end of April.

 it is possible to plant corn in the middle of April to obtain a crop in mid or late November.

White corn is grown in Jordan from mid-March to the end of April in rain-fed areas, and it is grown in Egypt at the same time specified for planting corn in southern Iraq.Maize is grown in Yemen in the summer.

As for rain-fed agriculture, it is about 15 days ahead of schedule in irrigated agriculture, and the reason is to benefit from the early spring rains.

White corn enters the double or triple agricultural cycle as a summer crop, as it is successfully planted after palm cereals and legume crops instead of leaving the land fallow. White corn can also be grown after sunflowers.

Growing corn at home

It is recommended to plant corn, which is a seasonal plant in a warm climate, when the soil temperature reaches 15 degrees Celsius and the air temperature ranges from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius.

The best time to plant corn is the middle of spring, that is, approximately the second half of April. The plant grows and does not bear fruit when planting corn in a cold climate. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant it at this time, as it will fail.

Steps for growing corn at home:

1. Choose the type of corn you want to grow so that the corn kernels are healthy for use as seeds. You can get them from herbal shops and nurseries.
2. Soak the corn seeds in water at least two days before planting until they become soft in order to speed up the germination process.
3. Make sure to fertilize the soil before planting with a fertilizer rich in nitrogen. The soil used must be well-drained and aerated.
4. Use a suitable size pot for planting, as the distance between each seed should be 15 cm.
5. Make small holes 5 cm deep, keeping in mind the distance between each hole is 15 cm.
6. Place a seed in each hole and cover it with soil. Water the seeds, then place the pot in a sunny place.
7. The corn must be fertilized again after the stalks grow and grow to a length of 20 to 25 cm.

Following important instructions on growing corn at home:

• It is not preferable to irrigate the soil overhead, especially when the upper part of it grows. Therefore, be sure to irrigate the soil itself only without pouring water on the sticks.
• Corn is a water-loving plant, so be sure to irrigate it whenever the soil dries, and make sure that the soil is moist and does not expose it to severe drought.
• It takes corn from 90 to 120 days to reach the harvest stage, depending on the variety of corn that you planted.
• Corn must be exposed to the sun daily for a period of no less than six to eight hours to ensure its good growth.
• Always monitor the corn plant as it grows, because corn is a plant susceptible to fungal diseases.
• It is preferable to choose a pot of an appropriate size so that the plant can bear it and allow the roots to grow freely. It is recommended to choose pots with a capacity of 20 litres.

Cultivation of fodder corn

Fodder corn is used as fodder for livestock such as calves, sheep, and dairy cows because it is an important source of energy and protein.

Feed corn is adopted as a modern method of agriculture and is used in many developed countries. Feed corn cultivation is characterized by rapid and abundant production and the desire of livestock for it, which makes it superior to other agricultural crops.

Fodder corn can be grown in various types of soil, provided there is water availability, as it needs water in large quantities, but the soil suitable for cultivation remains the deep soil that drains water well.

The corn planting season begins when the temperature begins to rise where it is known to require a high temperature,  the minimum temperature for corn planting is 10 degrees Celsius. The simultaneous drop in temperature and the occurrence of frost leads to a negative impact on the growth of the corn plant.

As for the maximum temperature that the corn plant can tolerate  It is 25 to 30 degrees Celsius during the day and also negatively affects the pollination process.

It is preferable to use improved fodder seeds instead of those produced by farms to obtain high corn production because these seeds are characterized by fighting diseases and harmful plants.

Red corn cultivation

Inside agricultural land in northern Gaza, the Palestinians succeeded in growing red corn for the first time on an area of one dunam for an experiment.

Where long papery stems grew, hidden between its green leaves were corn cobs. Its shiny kernels reflected a mixture of colors between ruby ​​red, white and pink.

For the first time in the two sectors, this type of sweet corn is growing, which differs from its yellow or white counterpart in terms of size, as it is the smaller of the two.

Red corn is characterized by the fact that it does not need large amounts of water or pesticides and can be grown in any type of soil. It also deals with all weather factors and does not need much fertilizer compared to other crops. It can also be grown in all seasons of the year.

Red corn has an attractive red color, a sweet taste, antioxidants, and contains many benefits, in addition to its easy cultivation. Therefore, it is considered one of the favorite plants in China.

According to scientific sites, this corn is a source of fiber that regulates the digestive system and a source of vitamin A, which contributes to maintaining the health of the organs. It also contains a number of other nutritional elements such as iron, , calcium, vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

The harvest time for red corn ranges from 75 to 100 days after planting the seeds, and the seeds need a germination period of eight to 22 days.

Red corn seeds are planted at a depth of 2 to 3 cm directly in the soil when the agricultural season arrives. The seeds can also be sown internally two weeks before the season while providing the plant with adequate lighting for about 15 hours a day. Soil moisture is also important for seed germination.

Corn cultivation in Saudi Arabia

Corn cultivation is one of the most important projects in Saudi Arabia, which reaps its fruits within the Kingdom. Corn also occupies third place among the plants that have great importance throughout the world after wheat and rice.

Corn is known in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as Habash, and it must be taken into account when planting corn, especially yellow corn, that it is necessary to use some types of chemical fertilizers,  they must be added to the soil depending on its quality as well as the climate surrounding it.

Among those fertilizers that are necessary for agricultural cultivation are fertilizers rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash.

During the process of growing corn in Saudi Arabia, some factors must be taken into consideration, including:

• Choosing a climate that is suitable for growing corn.
• Choosing the appropriate location for planting corn.
• Determine the appropriate date that ensures that you obtain high production when planting corn.

Regarding the climate of corn cultivation in Saudi Arabia, yellow corn cannot grow in areas where the temperature reaches less than 19 degrees Celsius, as it is one of the crops that need a warm environment in order to grow. It is worth noting that the maximum temperature at which a corn plant can grow is 36 degrees Celsius.

Yellow corn plants in Saudi Arabia require smaller amounts of water, especially when they are planted at the appropriate times for planting.

The process of harvesting corn begins in Saudi Arabia during the month of October, and corn is grown in Saudi Arabia during two periods: the spring season and the fall season, and the production value during the spring season is lower.

In the northern regions, yellow corn is grown during the month of July, while in the southern regions in Al-Dawasir, corn is grown during the first half of August.

The main season for growing corn is during the summer months, specifically during April and May.

Corn cultivation in Qatar

Corn cultivation constitutes an essential part of agricultural diversity in the Qatar region, as it is grown in two successive seasons, the first season starting from October to December, or the second season from December to March. The better the rains, the greater the corn production. Some farm owners in Qatar succeed in producing corn for three seasons Consecutive, starting from October until May.

The interest of farm owners in corn is a result of the increased demand during the winter period and the quality of the local production, which is considered fresh and reaches the consumer on the same day. Also, the production of corn in many farms in Qatar is very encouraging.

Corn cultivation is seasonal and lasts for four months in the winter, the farmer also benefits from it by making feed. The country’s climate is also compatible with the cultivation of corn, and focusing on it will lead to great results.

Common Questions