Growing Corn Under Drought Conditions

Insufficient soil moisture, especially during the critical growth phase of corn plants, can completely destroy the crop yield. Today, more than 30% of corn planting areas are located in high-risk drought zones, so most seed companies selling planting material are actively developing drought-resistant hybrids and creating precision planting technologies, which involve more rational use of soil resources. Most trading companies will advise buying corn seeds in Ukraine, as the seed developed in the potential growing zone is maximally adapted. Is this true or not? We will try to figure it out in this article.

General advice for growing corn in areas with insufficient soil moisture:

1. No-till plowing. This method of soil preparation before planting helps retain moisture reserves.
2. Planting at earlier dates. This allows for maximum utilization of winter-spring soil moisture reserves to form a well-developed root system.
3. Select the most drought-resistant hybrids. Their advantages over conventional varieties include not only vertical development of the root system, which extracts moisture from deeper soil layers, but also physiological structure of plants, significantly reducing water loss through above-ground organs.

Hydraneo® from Limagrain

LG’s drought management technology, which includes the most drought-resistant hybrids. They are selected based on minimal performance reduction under moisture deficiency and highest yield performance under optimal moisture conditions. The company also offers farmers soil drought risk diagnostics on specific fields and develops a comprehensive set of measures to increase crop yield.

Optimum® AQUAMax® from DuPont Pioneer

Pioneer’s line of hybrids, specifically developed for cultivation under drought and frequent temperature stress conditions. Careful research into factors affecting plant drought resistance was used by DuPont specialists to create a series of hybrids capable of developing a more robust root system, enhancing water absorption from various soil layers. On demonstration plots in 2017, Optimum® AQUAMax® hybrids outperformed conventional hybrids in yield.