This question has long been answered by botanists. Everyone knows - corn is a cereal crop. To consider that corn is a vegetable can be purely arbitrary. It is rich in various useful elements, fleshy and juicy in taste. Well, just like a tomato or cabbage. But when the grains fully ripen, they become hard, glassy to the touch, resembling wheat or rye.
Another confirmation of the plant's belonging to the cereal family is its structure. Everything, starting from the stem, flowering with panicles, the formation of ears, the type of fruit, obviously shows what corn is. This vegetable pleases a person with root vegetables or juicy pulp covering seeds. Corn is directly tasty seeds. In addition, it contains fiber.
What is corn, origin
Official science claims that corn is a relative of cereal crops. This is an annual plant (grassy), reaching a height of more than three meters. It has an erect stem, on which several seed cobs are formed in the axils of the trunk. Monoecious. Grains are usually bright yellow. They are the raw material for corn grits.
The ancestor of the species is wild corn. Its natural habitat occupied the central parts of America. She had small ears of 5-8 cm long, the seeds were covered with hard scales. Scientists consider it one of the oldest species of the family.
What is corn, if not the most valuable food product and a powerful fodder base for agricultural needs in the modern world? Almost all parts of the plant are applicable to processing. This culture is distinguished by the presence of gold both in fruits and in green mass.
Elements of agricultural technology
Varietal maize sowing begins in mid-May, tentatively for mid-latitudes. The depth of grain embedding is from 5 to 10 cm. The temperature of the soil should be at least 10 degrees. Standard landing patterns: 60X70 or 70X70. It is recommended to apply superphosphate at the same time as sowing, especially on poor soils.
During the formation of four leaves, the seedlings are thinned. No more than 2 stems should remain in the nest. Hilling is carried out immediately before throwing flower panicles.
Twice a season, it is advisable to feed the plants with superphosphate, potassium chloride and nitrate. This will positively affect the size of the fruits and their timely ripening. Early and mid-ripening varieties already on the 70-80th day, counting from the appearance of seedlings, give ready-to-eat cobs.
Crop rotation
The cultivation of corn on an industrial scale involves the implementation of crop rotation. Thanks to them, the level of plant disease decreases, the volume of grain output increases.
The best predecessors, after which corn grows well, are potatoes, legumes, spring wheat, and steam. It is also permissible to grow sugar beets, corn silage, spring for feed.
It is most convenient to perform crop rotation according to the principle of several fields, where each type of cultivated crop is present in crop rotation (multi-field system). This allows you to get high yields and not lose in the volume of annual production of a certain type of agricultural product.
Culture for the neighborhood
Growing corn at home, you can always plant other plants in the neighborhood. Corn of the "cereals" family quite easily puts up with any species, and with some it can enter into a kind of symbiosis. So, for example, planting cucumbers or weaving beans nearby, there is no need for additional supports. Corn stalks do a great job of this. In turn, lianas give additional stability to the plant, which is important with strong gusts of wind.
All types of peas and bush form of beans, planted nearby, enrich the root space with nitrogen, giving corn extra strength. During sowing, you should first sow corn and wait until seedlings appear, then any other crops. Then she will have time to gain strength and will not be oppressed by her neighbors.
Corn: varieties and hybrids
The modern variety of varieties obtained on the basis of ordinary corn. This thermophilic plant came from South America. Thanks to the efforts of breeders and long work, humanity has:
- Dental-grade corn. The most cost-effective for cultivation. You can get record yields of up to 150 centners per hectare. Great feed for cattle (cattle) and other farm animals. Fat contains up to 5%, protein mass - up to 10%.
- Sweet corn. Due to the high content of carbohydrates (75%) and proteins (20%), as well as sugar, it is extremely nutritious and is used for harvesting. The presence of fat in it is small. This is the most cultivated type of corn in the entire space of the European continent.
- Waxy corn. Varieties are not widespread, but are rich in starchy substance (the most valuable amylopectin!) - up to 95% of the content. Indispensable as a supplement to the diet of cattle.
- Siliceous corn. A good frost-resistant variety, not suitable for lodging stems and shedding grain. It has a high immunity against a wide range of fungal diseases and rot. It contains enough starch - about 87%, and is nutritious for animals. However, this variety is not too productive, only 65-75 centners per hectare.
- Corn for popcorn (popping). Hybrids and varieties of this corn are very popular in many sectors of the confectionery industry. A feature of grains is their ability to swell when heated and increase their volume, turning into an airy crispy structure.
A bit of corn humor
The question "Is corn a vegetable or cereal?" At one time, people in New York were very interested. And this was due to the fact that the competition was just held for the adoption of the "vegetable" state emblem. Onions and corn entered the rivalry, and according to the results of voting, the latter won.
Adherents of onions were indignant for a long time and demanded that the victory be declared invalid, because corn is cereal! In addition, product production in this region was significantly inferior to onions.
But as they say, America is a free country, and not just for people. Even the statement “Corn is a vegetable!” will sound quite natural here. Indeed, at one time, under the reign of Reagan, everyone loved ketchup as a vegetable !!!
And what does an ordinary person say? Is corn a vegetable or cereal? Probably all the same, because no matter how you call her, she still remains tasty, nutritious and healthy!