University research and extension are critical in equipping producers and agronomists with the information they need to continue advancing corn production in Iowa. Incorporating new scientific findings and recommendations into today's agricultural systems must be our priority to consistently produce a high quality crop that is also economically feasible.
Early signs of corn stress
Roger Elmore and Lori Abendroth
Planting corn in 2009 went far better than 2008 for Iowa producers. Overall, the corn crop is healthy and currently ranges in development from the second to eighth leaf growth stage. Some fields however do have variability in plant color, ranging from green to yellow-green to purple. Symptoms like this occur occasionally and are often affected by tillage system, hybrid, and other management variables. The color variability in most of our fields is not a cause for alarm as the plants simply reflect management and/or the 2009 environment to date. Read on for an explanation of how these factors impact crop color.
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