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Why This Page ?

Someone asked for information and suggestions relative to growing corn. I realized that I had a few notes from the two or three corn plots I have grown using this modified hydro method.

Realizing that many factors can contribute to success or failure, other than the nutrient solution, I offer this information only as suggestions or starting points for experimentation.

I was very well pleased with the results. The quality and flavor of the corn was such that only a few ears produced another grower using this method. His page has a number of pictures of corn, tomatoes, and beans. Hopefully he will reveal the methods and nutrients that he used.

Each year that I have grown corn with this method, I have used TWO feeding systems. The primary feeding system delivers the standard tomato nutrients to the corn. These feeding are usually at one hour intervals. The booster nutrient supplies additional N and K.

Corn needs additional volume, and higher concentrations of nutrients. Since I use bulk tanks instead of injectors, the only logical way to accomplish the additional concentrations was to add a separate system.

This is much easier than one would think, especially if all the hardware is available. I used a 55 gal barrel, a 12 Volt DC pump, and the same kind of drip lines and emitters as used for the other crops.

My control system is rather flexible. I simply add another zone control to the configuration file and connect this output to the pump relay. The primary system is allowed to continue feeding the tomato rations therefore the cycles are not critical for the secondary system.

Typically, the secondary booster nutrient system will feed about 5 minutes, every TWO hours. You can take a look at the color of the Plants to see what you think. This photo was taken a week or two later.

The Nutrients Used

The Tomato nutrients need to be considered and reviewed along with the concentration of the booster nutrient solution. Truman's method is a bit more logical as he used a separate single system to feed his corn. When you view his system, you can see that it was planned. Unfortunately, mine evolved over time, with little planning. However my system was good enough to cause Trumans addiction.

Corn Booster Nutrients

    
  
     N       P       K         Ca        Mg         

     --------------------------------------------   

     390     27.93   169.77    N/A       N/A        

      
    

Tomato Nutrients

When tomato transplants are first set, the nutrient solution is at its lowest concentration. It will remain at this level for about 4 weeks. ( Date of mix and Calculation, 04-02-1997 )

   
  
    N         P         K          Ca          Mg         

    ------------------------------------------------      

    60.276    35.367    149.81     68.39       28.57      

      
   

Second Batch 5-2-1998

While the intent was to follow tomato requirements to some degree, I had another experimental crop that dictated some slight changes. This endeavor led to the exceptionally close cluster spacing of full size tomatoes. This is the nutrient formulations that produced the cluster forking of the cherry tomatoes. Interesting note, this cherry tomato plant is growing in 1 gallon of media. The media is clyindrical in shape, about 16 inches long. This allows more length to the root mass and produces near complete washing of the root mass at each feeding.

   
  
    N         P         K          Ca          Mg         

    ------------------------------------------------      

    87.271    44.071    187.204    102.553     42.187     


      
    

Third Batch 5-9-1997

   
  
    N         P         K          Ca          Mg         

    ------------------------------------------------      

    101.566   33.79     143.533    128.199     31.64      


      
    

Fourth Batch 5-16-1997

   
  
    N         P         K          Ca          Mg         

    ------------------------------------------------      

    110.532   42.303    179.694    136.721     40.46      


      
    

Fifth Batch 5-24-1997

   
  
    N         P         K          Ca          Mg         

    ------------------------------------------------      

    118.469   44.502    189.036    146.962     42.61      


      
    

Additional Note

   
  
    The above ppm calculations did not include the phosphoric acid
    used to correct the pH. This was typically 1.0 to 1.5 oz per
    100 gal.  I felt that the ppm was insignificant because there is
    a certain amount of uncertainty as to the optimum ppm required.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------  

    The method of ppm calculations was a combination of program and 

    manual. 


    The manual part is done in the simplest way I know based on 

    weight of water and weight of nutrient. 


    If the tank batch is 500 gal,   500 X 128 oz = 64,000 oz 


    1 ppm will be   64,000 / 1,000,000  = .064 oz. 


    If I use 40 oz of material, the Mg is  5.4 % 


    40 oz X .054 = 2.16 oz. 


    2.16 / .064  =  33.75 ppm 


    P and K were corrected with the proper per cents. 

      
    

Logfiles of Feeding Times, 1998

Zone 1 Tomatoes

Zone 2 Onions

Zone 3 Vertical Media

Afterthoughts and Projections

The MAGIC Stuff A witches brew, but not MINE !