Treating Diseased Corn
Treating diseased corn crops requires an integrated management approach that combines prevention, monitoring, and timely intervention.
1. Select Disease-Resistant Hybrids
Choose corn hybrids with proven resistance or tolerance to the diseases common in your region. Consult with seed representatives and use ratings to guide selection.
2. Practice Crop Rotation
Rotate corn with non-host crops (like soybeans or small grains) to break disease cycles and reduce pathogen levels in the soil and residue.
3. Manage Crop Residue
Incorporate or remove infected residue through tillage or other methods to lower the amount of disease-causing organisms that survive between seasons.
4. Apply Seed Treatment Fungicides
Use fungicide-treated seed to protect against early-season diseases such as seedling blights and root rots, especially in fields with a history of disease or challenging conditions (cold, wet, or compacted soils).
5. Scout Fields Regularly
Monitor fields frequently, especially during key growth stages (pre-tasseling through grain fill), to detect disease symptoms early and make informed management decisions.
6. Use Foliar Fungicides When Needed
Apply foliar fungicides at the appropriate growth stage (often from late vegetative to early reproductive stages) if disease risk is high and economic thresholds are met. Strobilurin and triazole fungicides are commonly used for diseases like gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight.
7. Implement Good Agronomic Practices
Ensure optimal plant spacing for airflow, manage irrigation to avoid prolonged leaf wetness, and maintain balanced soil fertility to reduce plant stress and susceptibility.
8. Consider Biological Controls
For specific diseases like aflatoxin contamination, biological products such as non-toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus can be effective in reducing toxin levels.
If you need any further help or have any questions about service, tractors, implements, or anything else equipment-related, please contact your dealer, local mechanic, or call us at 602-734-9944. Please ask about our current new and used tractor supply.
If you are looking for old, vintage, classic, or new tractor parts, send us a part request.
Team Tractor Ranch - #1 Tractor Dealer in Arizona. We sell and service most major brands of tractors including Yanmar, Kubota, John Deere, TYM, Mahindra, Kioti, Case, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Ford, Deutz, Case IH, Farmall, International Harvester, Branson Tractors, LS, Shibura, Claas Tractor, McCormick Tractors, Valtra, Solis, YTO, Montana, and Nortrac.
