The V15 corn plant in figures 20 and 21 is approximately 10-12 days (six V stages) away from the R1 (silking) stage. This stage is the beginning of the most crucial period of plant development in terms of seed yield determination.
Upper ear shoot development by V15 has surpassed that of the lower ear shoots, figure 22, and a new leaf stage is now occurring every 1-2 days. Silks are just beginning to grow from the upper ears at this time, figure 23.
By V17 the upper ear shoots may have grown enough that their tips are visible (without dissection) at the top of the leaf sheaths that surround them. The tip of the tassel may also be visible at V17.
Management Guides - V15 Stage
Larger seed yield reduction will result from water stress occurring between about two weeks before to two weeks after silking than similar stress at any other period of growth. The largest yield reduction will result from stress at silking (early R1 stage) with smaller reductions resulting the further away from silking that the stress occurs. This is generally true with other types of environmental stress such as nutrient deficiencies, high temperatures or hail. This four-week period around silking is the most important time for irrigation.
Next Page - V18 Stage || Previous Page - V12 Stage || Table of Contents