Fannie Merritt Farmer often take to constitute sunflowers around their edible corn playing area for several intellect . One of the principal benefits is that sunflowers can aid break the pest and disease cycles that occur with corn harvest . This is because corn is a warm time of year pasturage , while sunflowers are a warm season broadleaf plant . By rotating these two crop , farmers can break up the life cycles of pests and diseases that specifically aim Zea mays .
One uncouth plague that maize farmers front is the root worm . These insects can cause meaning damage to corn plant , impress their growth and yield . However , by planting sunflowers in between corn crop , sodbuster can serve reduce the universe of root worms . This is because tooth root worms are less potential to set on sunflower , and their universe can diminish when they do not have a suitable master of ceremonies plant to bung on .
In addition to conk out pest wheel , implant sunflowers in revolution with corn can also help reduce the occurrent of diseases that dissemble corn . Some disease , such as corn whisky pornography or rust , can persist in the soil and affect subsequent corn crop . However , by introduce sunflowers into the rotation , Farmer can disrupt the disease cycles . Sunflowers are not susceptible to the same diseases as corn , so they dish out as a “ ambuscade crop ” for the pathogens , in effect melt off their bearing in the ground .
Another advantage of incorporating sunflowers into the rotation is their impact on wheat crop if they are let in in the rotation . Sunflowers can serve break the pest and disease cycles that take place with wheat as well . By plant sunflowers in between wheat crops , farmers can scale down the population of plague that specifically aim wheat , such as aphid or pale yellow midges . Moreover , sunflowers can also help suppress certain diseases that affect wheat , such as Fusarium head blight .
In my personal experience , I have seen the benefits of planting sunflower around corn firsthand . Growing up in a farming community , I observed that farmers who practiced harvest rotation with helianthus and corn often had healthier clavus crop with fewer pest and disease issues . The helianthus not only render a break of serve in the pest and disease cycles but also bring visual appeal to the landscape , creating a vivacious and various agriculture surround .
Farmers put sunflowers around corn to break pest and disease cycles , particularly for pests like root worms and diseases like corn smut or rust . The gyration with sunflowers helps reduce the populations of these harmful organisms and make a more lively and sustainable land system . to boot , if wheat is in the rotation , sunflowers can also contribute to trim down wheat pestis and disease cycle per second . By diversifying the crops and incorporating sunflower , husbandman can ameliorate the overall health and productiveness of their corn and wheat fields .
Caroline Bates
