Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 18, Number 38, DeMotte, Jasper County, 20 August 1948 — Expect Nubbins When Corn’s Fired [ARTICLE]

Expect Nubbins When Corn’s Fired

Also —When —It —Is Yellowing, —Is Word Of Purdue Ag Expert More and more corn fields are showing yellowing or “firing” of lower leaves throughout Illinois and Indiana, according to reports -received Saturday. Reports from Purdue University in Indiana, from Dr. James R. Holbert of Funk Bros. Seed company, and from Walter Meers, prominent corn grower and stockman, all agree that it is nitrogen deficiency more than moisture deficiency. Perhaps that “Ideal Weather” reported for July produced too much growth of stalks and leaves and depleted the nitrogen supply in the soil so that many nubbins can be expected instead of full ears of corn in those fields now in trouble. Purdue’s Message Purdue university’s news service from Lafayette, Ind., says: “Heavy green growth stimulated by plenty of moisture and- excellent soil nitrification in late June and July has made unusual heavy nitrogen demands for maintaining vigorous plants and developing the ears in August. “Hard run fields, soils in poor physical condition, high spots, and generally thin soils are all showing the tell-tale symptom this month that the soil is unable to meet the plants’ requirement for nitrogen. The low leaves start to yellow at the tip, and the yellow color follows down the mid-rib t the leaf base. Rather quickly the entire leaf turns brown. As

nitrogen deficiency becomes mo>s acute, additional leaves turn yellow, and if severe enough to affect leaves as high as the ear node, the yield will be much re=~ dueed. “Slight evidence of nitrogen starvation in high yielding fields is not unusual. Heavy ‘firing’ however, will seriously hurt corn

, prospects and nubbins will he pro--1 duced rather ' than well finished I corn. “Nitrogen deficiency symptoms should not be confused with those ! showing potash starvation which ! is a yellowing along the leaf margin-”