Purple And Yellow Corn

 

It is that time of year and with the weather conditions we’ve had the last 30 day we should expect to see purple corn, yellow corn, and maybe even some tattered leaves. Mostly the mosaic of corn color is a product of the weather; cooler and wetter. Over the last 30 days, rainfall has been 150 to 200% above normal and temperatures have be a couple degrees cooler than normal across Iowa.

 

Nitrogen and potassium deficiencies, herbicide injury, and soil compaction can all contribute to yellow leaf tissue while purple leaf tissue is a symptom of phosphorus deficiency or problems that result in reduced plant sugar translocation within the plant. However, yellow and purple plants can also be attributed to cooler and wetter conditions that slow root and plant growth rates which in turn diminishes the ability of the plant to take up nutrients. No, this doesn’t necessarily mean there is a nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium deficiency.

 

Another complication in addition to cool and wet weather is that many fields have corn plants in the 2nd to 4th leaf stage. This is the timeframe where corn plants transition from the radicle and seminal roots to the rapidly developing nodal root system. Even with ideal weather conditions it is common with a keen eye to be able to notice plant yellowing briefly during this transition.

 

The end result, take the holiday weekend to go fishing and hope warmer, drier weather prevails. As warmer, sunny weather will increase root and plant growth rates and plant color will turn green again.

 

 

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.