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A critical time for irrigation in some areas

An irrigation specialist says it’s a critical time for irrigated corn in Indiana and Michigan to receive water in order to maximize yields.

Lyndon Kelley with Purdue and Michigan State Extension says the corn crop’s increased need for water starts when it enters the tassel stage.  “We see about a three to four week time period that corn is going to be at that maximum water use,” he says.  “It’s from tassel to a little past blister stage.”

He tells Brownfield the major goal of irrigation is to supply the crop with the amount of water it needs to produce yields.

Kelley says during critical times – the corn crop is not very forgiving.  “From tassel to that blister stage if you have time periods where you’re actually shorting it a day or two on water we see something in the one to one and a half percent yield reduction for each day we are missing that goal,” he says.

He says it is beneficial to pollination for farmers to irrigate before the heat of the day.  Kelley says the canopy and soil surface get wet, temperatures are lowered, and relative humidity is raised.

AUDIO: Lyndon Kelley, Purdue and Michigan State University Extension