Lodging
Lodging is the displacement of crop stems from their vertical position, resulting in the plants leaning or falling flat against the soil surface.
Также говорят: crop lodging, stem bending
Lodging significantly impacts harvest efficiency, often leading to reduced yield and grain quality due to shading, disease development, and difficulties in mechanical harvesting. It is primarily triggered by heavy wind, rain, or an imbalanced nutrient supply that creates weak stem structures.
To mitigate this risk, farmers use plant growth regulators to reduce stem height and strengthen cell walls. Proper seed density is essential; excessive planting rates often lead to thin, etiolated stems that cannot support the weight of the ear or head.
A common management error is applying high rates of nitrogen fertilizer during the stem elongation stage, which promotes rapid growth at the expense of structural integrity. Selecting lodging-resistant varieties is a critical preemptive measure for high-risk regions.