Corn Production Guide

1. CORN SEED
PRODUCTION
Edgardo C. Nacario

2. Rationale:
 High quality seed is a must in crop
production. Using this kind of seed alone
increase production by 20-30%. However
in cases or in areas where farmers cannot
avail of this quality seeds, farmers can use
their own produce for the next crop.
Farmers may try producing their own
seeds by following some important steps,
in order to obtain the desired quality of the
seeds.

3. Objectives:
1. Know the prerequisites in establishing a
corn seed production/planning in corn
seed production.
2. Know how to manage a corn seed
production.
3. Be able to maintain the seed purity or
varietal purity of corn seed.
4. Ensure good yield of the crop through
production of high quality OPV corn seed

4. Corn Seed Production:
 Parent Breeder Seed and Breeder are the first two
steps in a seed production program which is
normally produced in the experimental station is
at the highest level attainable under prevailing
conditions.
 In addition at the various stages in seed
production, the plant phenol type should be
considered in rouging and selection, and
therefore the agronomic management should
permit the full expression of the plant type, while
still maximizing the total number of grain usable
as seed. This means that lower plant population
should be used in seed production fields than that

5. In order to maintain varietals
uniformity it is very important to:
a. Uniformly prepare the soil before planting
a. Plant population is uniform at the desired
level
a. Weed and pest are controlled on time
a. Use higher level of fertilizer rate
b. Carry out agronomic management in a timely
fashion

6. Cultural Management for Open
Pollinated Corn Seed Production
Requirements unique to seed production
1. Seed crop warrants greater care and more inputs
than commercial grain crops
2. Goal is to obtain maximum number of high
quality seeds
3. Requires uniform growing environment to
facilitate rouging
4. Consideration of area to be planted, availability
of labor and demand for seeds

7. Factors to be considered in
establishing corn seed production
Site Selection:
1. Accessibility of the area-for field inspection
and to transport facilities and other facilities
like dryer, etc.
2. Away from tree area
3. Well protected from domestic animals
4. Not prone to flooding
5. Not crossed by path used to pedestrians

8. 5. Had other crops other than corn in the previous
cycle
6. Early isolated by time of planting distance or both
from other field
7. Has possibility of irrigation
8. Has high possibility of disposing or selling the
seeds to be produced

9. Other considerations:
1. Climatic conditions
* Day length
* Extreme temperature
* Pest pressures
2. Availability of labor

10. Choosing the variety to be used
Farmers are particular in choosing the
varieties Corn varieties differ in the
resistance to pests and diseases, length of
maturity, adaptability, growth characteristics
like, height, lodging, etc. There are
traditional varieties and high yielding
varieties (OPV or hybrids) developed by
research institutions. But there is no perfect
guarantee that varieties that have passed
laboratory screening will be the best quality

11. Factors to consider in choosing the
variety to be used:
1. Adapted to the specific condition in the
community
 Soil
 Climate
 Rainfall
 Temperature
 Humidity
2. Yield potential of the variety
3. Market demand for the variety

12. 4. Resistance to pest and diseases
5. The growth characteristics
6. Maturity of the variety
7. Resistance to advance condition
8. Silage yield and digestibility

13. Land Preparation (some considerations)
1. Thorough land preparation is a must in
corn seed production field.
2. Staggard plowing/harrowing of one or ore
week interval.
3. Allow most of the weeds and other
volunteer plants to germinate before the
second harrowing.

14. Planting :
 Plant density should be 10-15% lower
than the commercial corn grain planting
 Distance of planting should be
- 75 cm between rows
- 30-40 cm between hills
 Expect plant population is about 44,000
plants/ha.

15. Fertilizer Applications:
1. Recommended rate of fertilizer for seed
production is 120-60-60 or 8.57 bags/ha.
2. Time of application
• Apply ½ of N and all P & K before
planting as basal
• Sidedress 20-30 days after planting
(DAP)
3. Other source of fertilizer
• Foliar fertilizers
• Organic fertilizers

16. How to maintain the genetic make-up
or the purity of OPV Corn:
1. Isolation – this the planting of corn in an
isolated area or planting either ahead or
delayed with other neighboring fields.
• Isolation by time – plant 18-20 days
advanced or delayed from the neighboring
corn fields
• Isolation by distance – plant 200-300 meters
away from neighboring corn field

17. 2. Rouging - remove off types undesirable &
disease infected plants during the vegetative
stage just before pollen shedding if there are
still left undesirable plants.
3. Practice seed selection

18. Methods of seed selection:
 Sample mass seed selection
1. In an isolated corn field select 500-100
ears from good plants
2. Select 10-20 kernels from the selected
ears
3. Dry then bulk for next planting

19.  Modified mass seed selection (Grid)
1. Assign a grid from isolated corn field
2. Select 10% good plant from each grid (500
ears)
3. Select 10-20 kernels from the selected ears
4. Bulk the seeds – for next planting

20.  Ear – to – row
1. From the selected ears, select kernels and plant in
rows about 5 meters long.
2. Assign male & female row
3. Remove tassels before pollen shedding of female
designated rows, 3-4 rows detasselled
4. Designated male row-remained undetasselled
5. Select again about 500 ears (only from female
plants)
6. Select 20 kernels from each ear and bulk
7. Use bulk seed for next planting

21. Summary:
Selling price of quality seed should be high
enough to compensate inputs level and
management for seed production which is
higher than commercial grain production.
 Better land preparation
 Lower plant population
 Higher fertilizer rate
 Efficient pest and disease control
 Effective weed control
 Best possible water management
 Timeless of all operations