Changes in pH of Corn Stover Following Grain Maturity1

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Abstract
We examined changes over time in the pH of various component parts of maturing corn plants (Zea mays L.). In 1972, representative plants of a single hybrid were sampled at weekly intervals, beginning at 39% grain moisture, and subdivided into several vegetative components. The pH and percent dry matter (PDM) of leaf, stalk, and husk components increased exponentially with decreasing grain moisture content. The pH of all components was initially about 5.5 and began to increase, at grain physiological maturity, to values greater than 8.0. The pH of lower stalk segments was positively correlated (r = 0.677, P ≤ 0.01) with visual pith‐condition ratings. Across the data for 14 hybrids grown at three locations in 1973, stalk pH was linearly correlated over tune with stalk PDM. Both pH and stalk PDM were correlated, over time, with transformed Log 10 X + 1) percent broken stalks (PBS) (r = 0.482 and 0.647, respectively, P ≤ 0.01). Hybrid effects for pH, PDM and PBS were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.01) at all locations. However none of the hybrid by time‐of‐harvest interactions were significant for pH, PDM, or PBS, indicating that rates of change over time in the three parameters were similar for all 14 hybrids.

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