The total planting area of corn has sharply risen from 22.67 million ha. at the beginning of this century to about 36.00 million ha. in 2012, making corn the largest crop at home, surpassing rice and wheat. Therein, the corn planting has been expanded most significantly in Heilongjiang Province (Heilongjiang), increasing year by year to 5.23 million ha. in 2010 from 2.05 million ha. in 2003. As is reported, Heilongjiang has probably ranked as the largest corn planting province in China, with the estimated planting area approaching 6.00 million ha. in the year of 2012, greatly contributing to the protection of national food security and feed supply, according to CCM’s October Issue of Seed China News.
Reasons for the rapid expansion of corn planting in Heilongjiang
1. Rising temperature
Study shows that global warming has direct and obvious impacts on the planting regions of crops. With the rising temperature, the existing boundaries of crop planting would be moved northward, leading to the output increase of thermophilic crops like corn.
In the past, the early frost occasionally occurring in early September could easily cause the chilling damage to corn planting in Heilongjiang, with harvested corn grains having high water content and slow dehydration. Since this century, the postponed early frost owing to global warming has increased by 11%-14% of the accumulated temperature no less than 10℃, alleviating the chilling damage to corn and extending the period for grain filling.
2. Sharp decline of soybean yield
Heilongjiang, as the largest soybean planting province at home, has witnessed sharp decline of soybean yield in recent years. Eyeing the higher planting profit of corn, the growers in Heilongjiang tend to give up planting soybean and adopt corn planting. According to the data released by Heilongjiang Provincial Agricultural Committee, the unit planting profit of corn in Heilongjiang reached USD754.78/ha. in 2011, nearly four times of that of soybean, which was USD191.08/ha.
3. Application of mulching cultivation technology
Heilongjiang has a large span of dimension, with the gradually decreasing accumulated temperature from south to north. In accumulated temperature zone Ⅳ and Ⅴ, the growing season of crops only lasts for about 90-100 days and the yield of corn is very low in natural conditions. However, the application of mulching cultivation technology with drip irrigation technology is able to advance the sowing of corn for 10-20 days and increase the effective accumulative temperature by 100-200℃, generating a considerable yield of corn.
4. Introduction of early mature corn varieties
Corn varieties from Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, Jilin Province and Liaoning Province have rapidly entered accumulated temperature zone Ⅲ and Ⅳ of Heilongjiang with the continually decreasing soybean planting in the two zones. For example, Zhengdan 958, an excellent corn hybrid with high and stable yield, high quality, multi-resistant and wide adaptability, can realize a considerable yield under the planting density between 52,500 plants/ha. and 75,000 plants/ha. Xianyu 335 can realize 5% to 10% higher yield than local corn cultivars, with rapid dehydration of corn grains and moderate ear position suitable for mechanized harvesting.
Overall, the competition among corn varieties is more intense in accumulated temperature zone Ⅱ and Ⅲ of Heilongjiang. Apart from some mid-early and early mature varieties bred by Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences and local seed companies, some foreign extremely early mature corn hybrids suitable for mechanized management like Capitol and Demeiya have been well received by local growers. However, extremely early mature corn varieties with shorter growth period are still urgently needed in accumulated temperature zone Ⅳ.
Division of accumulated temperature zones of corn in Heilongjiang
Heilongjiang has a vast territory covering 44 to 53 degrees north latitude, with great heat difference. According to verified temperature in different regions and required accumulated temperature by corn planting, 6 accumulated temperature zones of corn in total have been divided in Heilongjiang, in accordance with that an accumulated temperature zone is divided for per 200℃ of temperature gap from south to north. Corn planting is mainly concentrated in accumulated temperature zone Ⅰ to Ⅳ, with planting area accounting for about 95% of the total in the province.
Source: Seed China News 1212
http://www.cnchemicals.com/Newsletter/NewsletterDetail_28.html
Contents of Seed China News 1212:
Oversupply: a repeating nightmare
2012: seed industry consolidation further promoted
Corn planting increases significantly in Heilongjiang
Corn planting would encounter disease occurrence in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain
Pod pepper planting increases somewhat in southern China
Vegetable seed marketing undergoing transformation
Registration of seed treatment agents in China
Major varieties of oil sunflower in Bayannaoer, Inner Mongolia
Market of hybrid rice Shenliangyou 5814 shows rapid growth
Anhui Wanken applies for IPO
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