Bulletin No.

181

Document Type

Bulletin

Department

Department of Agronomy

Description

Summary
1.
Corn was first cultivated by white people in the colony of Virginia in 1608, and has increased in importance until it now ranks first in value among all grain crops in the United States and in South Dakota
2. South Dakota is peculiarly adapted to supply seed corn to the states north and west. These states grow corn for roughage every year, but as a rule do not produce seed for their own use.
3. The production of corn in South Dakota may be increased by the more general use of adapted varieties. Still further improvement may be had by selecting local strains of these varieties for the various localities. Many such local selections or strains are already in use.
4. With information now available, it is possible to recommend varieties for each of the several sections of the state. These recommendations are shown on a map of the state, Fig. No. 28.
5. Fall plowing for corn is desirable from the standpoint of labor distribution. It is an effective means of destroying insects and gives better opportunity for frost .action in the soil, but there are some conditions under which spring plowing is desirable.
6. The depth of plowing for corn in this state is from six to eight inches, according to average result of tests to date.
7. The subsoiler has not produced results that would warrant its use in preparing land for corn.
8. Corn ground should be harrowed, disked and cultivated thoroughly, the principal object to destroy weeds, but other incidental benefits accrue from careful tillage and cultivation.
9. Seed corn should be carefully selected from the field in September, before hard freezes occur, and dried, tested and graded before planting, as this improves the stand and increases the yield.
10. Systematic crop rotation is essential to success in corn production. Tests of various methods are cited and those which have given best results are recommended.

Keywords

South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Agronomy, Corn, Zea Mays, Grains

Pages

62

Publication Date

3-1918

Type

text

Format

application/pdf

Language

en

Publisher

South Dakota Experiment Station, South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts

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