Corn precursors ensure a high-quality grain harvest. This crop is not the most capricious in crop rotation. It does not accumulate diseases (with the exception of fusarium). Pests of other crops have little interest in corn.
It is much more important to sow it at a specific time for the region. Proper soil preparation and compliance with temperature and humidity conditions will allow gardeners to grow high-quality food or feed corn.
When placed after grain crops, the damage to plantings by nematodes is reduced.Experienced gardeners know: maize does not impair soil fertility. After harvesting, there is enough organic residue left in the ground. When they rot, they saturate the soil with nitrogen.
The place of corn in crop rotation is difficult to overestimate. Sometimes there are no regular crops in the garden. But to improve the health of the soil and free it from weeds, it is useful to plant maize in problem areas.
Why is crop turnover necessary?
Corn can be sown after corn for 2–3 years. But to restore the fertility and structure of the soil, and the balanced composition of the flora, it is recommended to adhere to crop rotation.
Alternating plants is economically beneficial to the gardener. The earth is given the required structure and fertility is restored. Little effort is spent. When alternating plantings, the gardener has the opportunity to wisely use small summer cottages.
Maize has a taproot system. Plantings loosen the soil to a considerable depth. During development, the crop inhibits weeds. The soil is freed from annual harmful plants.
Corn is demanding on soil structure. Preparation for sowing necessarily involves digging, loosening, and disking. After these operations, the bed is freed from perennial weeds. The gardener receives ideal soil without the use of herbicides.
What to plant after corn?
It should be remembered: maize is a powerful plant. It has a highly developed ground part. It is removed at the end of the season. Deep, branched roots remain in the soil. They decompose slowly.
To saturate the soil with organic matter, their complete decomposition is required. This is achieved by thoroughly loosening the soil. The purpose of the procedure is to finely chop the remains. The bacteria will do the rest. The gardener will receive a prepared bed for subsequent plants.
What to plant?
Agronomists advise placing the following next year after maize:
- Winter grain crops. After corn, the damage to crops by nematodes decreases. But at the same time, fusarium disease is possible. Plowless cultivation of beds leads to the formation of mycotoxins in the grain. Diseases of the region should be taken into account. Corn is a carrier for some viruses (dwarf mosaic).
- Beet (table, sugar, fodder). After maize he feels great: nematodes no longer bother the crops. But at the same time, beets are affected by root rot. They are caused by fungi. To prevent troubles, it is recommended to finely chop the stems and carefully embed the remains into the soil. This measure will destroy fungal colonies in the soil.
- Can plant peas, fava or black beans. They will produce a good harvest on weed-free ridges and saturate the soil with nitrogen. This will make her healthier.
- Sunflower will produce quite well after corn. He will like deeply loosened, fertilized soil. Both cultures love sunny, well-warmed areas. The soil moisture requirements are identical.
- The vacant piece of the garden will be decorated with plantings of annual (red) flax. But this plant loves moister soils.
- Potato. Grows well after planting corn for grain and for silage. The culture responds well to loose soils with a lot of organic matter. But an additional addition of a mineral complex is required.
Some gardeners sow green manure: clover, alfalfa, lupine. For gardeners with pets, the measure is justified: herbs are used for food and at the same time for improving the health of the land. One must be careful: these followers can pollute the pure soil.
What can you plant before corn?
An experienced gardener knows: what is important for corn is not ideal predecessors, but well-prepared soil, the absence of weeds and compliance with planting dates. If there is a sufficient amount of planting space, the best results are obtained by placing:
- melons (zucchini, pumpkins, watermelons, melons);
- legumes (peas, beans, beans);
- potatoes;
- table, fodder, sugar beets;
- cereals and grain crops.
In regions with insufficient rainfall, maize is not sown after sunflower and beets. Heliotrope clogs the beds with spilled grain. Both crops deplete and dry the soil to a depth of 30 cm.
In small gardens, you can grow corn in one place for several years. For gardeners with pets, the following placement schemes apply:
- 3 years in a row corn, then peas or beans;
- 3 years in a row corn, then wheat.
In the fifth year, the rotation of crops is repeated. But good harvests can only be obtained with timely application of organic and mineral fertilizers. It is convenient to plant plantings near the place where animals are kept. This will reduce labor costs for transporting organic fertilizers.
What do predecessors depend on?
Crop rotation assumes the presence of plants after which the crop produces maximum yields. Maize can withstand monoculture for a long time. This is explained by the presence of a huge mass of organic matter in the soil after harvesting.
The best precursors for corn depend on the growing region. This is explained by the characteristics of the soil, climate, and amount of precipitation.
In the steppes, the highest yields are obtained after planting after winter wheat, barley, and melons.An acceptable predecessor is corn.
In the northern steppe regions, humidity is higher. It’s easy to grow a good harvest there using industrial technology. Its essence lies in the rational use of monoculture while observing the rules of agricultural technology. Good predecessors are winter wheat after black fallow.
In the forest-steppe zone, ideal predecessors are: legumes, corn for grain, potatoes. In areas with high humidity (north, northwest), the best beet yields are grown. But it should be removed early: it takes time to prepare the soil.
In the middle zone, a sufficient amount of grain is produced by plants planted after potatoes, winter crops, and corn for silage. They are placed in front of maize in this region. They do the same in areas with artificial irrigation of crops.
Unwanted Precursors
Corn can withstand monoculture for several years. Yields do not decrease (subject to cultivation rules). But experienced gardeners know: there are precursors that are undesirable for maize. I planted it after millet or sorghum, don’t expect a harvest!
All three cultures have common diseases. They are the “hosts” of viruses. When alternating, a green bridge is created. The infection easily moves along it and affects first the green parts of the plants, and then the grain. Pests also love them equally.
Few plants improve soil condition after harvesting. Maize is one of them. Growing it in the countryside is useful. If you follow the growing rules, labor costs are negligible.
To obtain good harvests, the gardener should know the place of corn in the crop rotation. Taking into account the peculiarities of growing a crop will allow you to manage your farm rationally. Even in small areas, you can plant little and still get enough.
