Why is corn planted in the top of furrows? What function does the furrow serve?

Question

We have planted a acre of Truckers Yellow corn, but we did not plant in furrows. We used a seeder and planted and most of it has come up.

We were just wondering if the furrows that farmers plant in serve a particular purpose, or if is just the result of plowing the field.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Most corn is "no-till" seed-drilled nowadays, after the whole plot has been killed off with broad spectrum herbicide..  Once the crop is underway, the entire plot -- even the corn -- is sprayed regularly with herbicide to keep weeds down.  The corn doesn't die because it's been engineered to withstand the herbicide.

Yum, huh?

See, physically turning the dirt to plant the crop and then physically (or even mechanically, as in, with a tractor and cultivator) removing the weeds thereafter is, like, so 10-minutes ago if you're a "real" farmer..

If you see corn that's growing from what appears to be a mounded row, chances are that the dirt has been physically turned, the seeds have been planted and allowed to germinate and grow a bit, then the dirt has been mounded up around the bottom of the stalks for stability..  The stalks will put some roots out into the mound, and that'll help keep it from being blown over.

Answer 2

Corn's a very top heavy plant, so it needs to have a little mound on its feet to help it stay upright until its root base is big enough to keep a tall plant anchored securely. Also, if corn was planted in the groove rather than on top of the furrow, the seed would either wash away or stay damp and rot in the ground.

Answer 3

Furrows carry water and the stalk "wicks up" the water.

Answer 4

Mostly for stability. The dirt ocassionally gets mounded back to the plants, Some corn will actally be pushed up by the roots and be unstable when it gets tall and windy.

Answer 5

The main purpose of seeding corn seed at furrow top to protect the plant from drowning. because corn very susceptible to water logging.

but it depend on the variety you use. see the breeder's documentation.

Probably you find that when corn field are irrigated, always keep water level below furrow top.

As it belongs to Gramineae family (grass family) botanically, its roots are very wide spread though not deep enough into the ground. but it is sufficient to support the plant without furrow.

Answer 6

It depends on the irrigation method.  If drip irrigation is used then the only reason for the planting on the top of the (bed) of furrow is to make sure the seed is planted directly above the under ground drip tape.  If furrow irrigation is used the reason is to keep the water in a controllable area in order to allow it to soak into the ground.  If the corn is dry land, which it should never be, the planting on the top of the bed is useless except to be able to plow under weeds and to keep the field clean by using plows.  I worked for a corn breeder and the later in the reason the lower the beds get which means they have little affect on the growth of the corn.

Answer 7

The furrows allow water to flow away from the seeds/plants so they aren't drowning in water.  With furrows they get the right amount of water they need to grow.