Building a food secured Africa
Have you ever wondered why some corn stalks produce little or no kernels on their corn cobs? it can be very disappointing maybe even annoying to open up a husk and find a virtually empty cob, as a farmer, this bad for business.
Here are some reasons why your corn cobs come out scanty or empty;
POOR POLLINATION
To start with, it is helpful to know that the Corn Crop depends on the transfer of its pollen grains for fertilization. This is to say that the major reason why the Corn does not bear much kernels on the Corn Cobs is because of lack of proper pollination. The carriers of this pollen are either breezes or bee activity. The best method to prevent/curtail this abnormality is to make enough space for good ventilation.
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES
Another reason for poor or scanty Corn Cobs is as a result of nutritional deficiencies like Nitrogen and Phosphorus. A good supply of Nitrogen and Phosphorus is needed in the early stages of Corn development to take care of the maximum number of kernels. It is recommended that foods with high Nitrogen and Phosphorus such as fish emulsion, alfalfa meal or kelp tea should be applied on a weekly basis for plants with maximum yield.
POOR IRRIGATION/DROUGHT
It is also very likely that the poor/scanty or empty Corn Cobs are as result of poor irrigation system/drought. In fact, this accounts for poor harvest in some vegetation.
INSECT INFESTATIONS
The negative effect of pests and insects on the growth of the corn species cannot be overlooked. Research has shown that corn plantations are liable to suffer from the impact of pests like weevils and ant bees more than any other species. One must be careful to apply the required dosage of insecticide/pesticide as the case may be to avoid infestation.