Since late June, some counties in the summer maize regions of Hebei Province have experienced severe flood disasters, significantly affecting the production of summer maize. On June 27, areas such as Xinji City, Botou City, Hejian City, Xian County, and Hengshui City were hit by strong winds, heavy rain, and hailstorms, with approximately 100,000 mu of corn fields affected. Then on June 29, storms and hail hit Wuqiao County, Gucheng County, Raoyang County, Anping County, Luancheng County, Wuyi County, and Wuqiang County, with about 50,000 mu of summer corn damaged in Raoyang alone. On July 5, high winds and hailstorms struck the plains of the province again, causing further damage to summer maize crops. In addition, frequent locust infestations have also caused varying degrees of damage at the seedling stage, necessitating timely field interventions.
**Several types of disaster impacts**
- **Leaf Damage**: Hail caused mechanical injuries to the leaves of young corn plants, resulting in spots, linear tears, or necrotic areas that eventually dry out.
- **Heart Leaf Blockage**: When the undamaged young leaves are injured, the plant cannot properly unfurl the new leaf, leading to curling and shrinking of the heart leaf.
- **Seedling Suffocation from Flooding**: Strong winds and heavy rains often accompany hailstorms, knocking down seedlings and later submerging them in water. This is especially common in low-lying areas where surface runoff occurs, and the lodged plants are often buried in mud.
- **Growth Point Rot**: After hail damage, most leaves may be destroyed, leaving only the leaf sheaths alive. However, excessive soil moisture following floods can lead to root hypoxia, nutrient deficiency, and ultimately, rotting of the growth point near the base of the plant. This issue is more severe in fields covered with wheat stalks compared to those with clear, spring-planted maize.
**Post-disaster management measures**
Given that corn is still in the seedling stage and has not yet begun jointing, the growth point is close to the surface or even underground. Therefore, direct damage to the plant is less likely. Most seedling deaths are due to suffocation caused by flooding or excessive moisture after the storm. Fortunately, most maize seedlings can gradually recover if managed properly.
- **Lifting Fallen Seedlings**: Some plants may be knocked over or submerged in muddy water during the storm. It's important to lift these seedlings as soon as possible to help them resume growth.
- **Topdressing with Nitrogen Fertilizer**: Damaged seedlings with reduced leaf area have limited photosynthesis and insufficient nutrients. Applying quick-release nitrogen fertilizer after the disaster can help restore growth. A recommended application is 10–15 kg of urea or 25–40 kg of ammonium bicarbonate per acre, applied in a furrow about 10 cm away from the plants.
- **Shallow Cultivation**: Heavy rains after the storm may cause waterlogged soil and poor aeration, which hinders root development. Early shallow cultivation can improve soil permeability and promote root growth.
- **Unfolding the Heart Leaf**: If the top leaves are curled or stuck due to damage, manually unfolding them can help the new leaves start photosynthesizing sooner.
- **Replanting**: In areas where many seedlings were lost, replanting with short-season varieties like Tang Kang 5 can help reduce losses.
- **Crop Replacement**: In severely damaged fields, it may be necessary to replace the crop with fast-growing alternatives such as fresh corn, feed corn, mung beans, buckwheat, or leafy vegetables to compensate for the loss.
These steps are crucial to minimize the impact of the disasters and ensure a better harvest in the coming season.
Preserved Fruit,Preserved Apple Slices,Preserved Pear Halves,Sweet Diced Peaches
Shanxi Fret International Trade Co.,Ltd , https://www.fretfruit.com