Farmers often choose to plant sunflowers around their corn fields for several reasons. One of the primary benefits is that sunflowers can help break the pest and disease cycles that occur with corn crops. This is because corn is a warm season grass, while sunflowers are a warm season broadleaf plant. By rotating these two crops, farmers can disrupt the life cycles of pests and diseases that specifically target corn.
One common pest that corn farmers face is the root worm. These insects can cause significant damage to corn plants, affecting their growth and yield. However, by planting sunflowers in between corn crops, farmers can help reduce the population of root worms. This is because root worms are less likely to attack sunflowers, and their population can decrease when they do not have a suitable host plant to feed on.
In addition to breaking pest cycles, planting sunflowers in rotation with corn can also help reduce the occurrence of diseases that affect corn. Some diseases, such as corn smut or rust, can persist in the soil and affect subsequent corn crops. However, by introducing sunflowers into the rotation, farmers can disrupt the disease cycles. Sunflowers are not susceptible to the same diseases as corn, so they serve as a “trap crop” for the pathogens, effectively reducing their presence in the soil.
Another advantage of incorporating sunflowers into the rotation is their impact on wheat crops if they are included in the rotation. Sunflowers can help break the pest and disease cycles that occur with wheat as well. By planting sunflowers in between wheat crops, farmers can reduce the population of pests that specifically target wheat, such as aphids or wheat 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 sunflowers around corn firsthand. Growing up in a farming community, I observed that farmers who practiced crop rotation with sunflowers and corn often had healthier corn crops with fewer pest and disease issues. The sunflowers not only provided a break in the pest and disease cycles but also added visual appeal to the landscape, creating a vibrant and diverse farming environment.
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 rotation with sunflowers helps reduce the populations of these harmful organisms and creates a more resilient and sustainable farming system. Additionally, if wheat is in the rotation, sunflowers can also contribute to reducing wheat pest and disease cycles. By diversifying the crops and incorporating sunflowers, farmers can improve the overall health and productivity of their corn and wheat fields.
