When drought occurs, farmers need to know how severely their crops are stressed and how the stress will affect yield. They also need to know what to do with crops that are drought-damaged. This publication explains the effect of drought stress and how to identity it and also describes alternatives you can consider when severe drought stress has occurred. Included are tables to help estimate the value of drought-stressed corn silage. Nutrient availability, uptake, and transport are impaired without sufficient water.
Plants weakened by stress are also more susceptible to disease and insects.
Severe moisture stress is indicated by leaf wilting that is alleviated only when the plants receive additional water. Moisture stress during this period can result in a lack of synchronization between pollen shed and silking at pollination, because pollen grains may not remain viable and silking may be delayed. Effects of Drought on Corn Yield. Water deficit effects on corn. Within 1 to 3 days after a silk is pollinated and fertilization is successful, the silk will detach from the developing kernel.