Based on experimental data and agricultural field studies, a single stalk of high-yielding commercial corn typically requires between 20 and 25 gallons (76–95 liters) of water to reach maturity.
In water-limited environments or lower-yield subsistence farming, a stalk may reach maturity with as little as 5 gallons (19 liters), though grain production will be significantly reduced. Conversely, in hot, dry climates with maximum irrigation, a single plant may consume upwards of 33 gallons (125 liters).
Executive Summary: Water Requirements per Stalk
| Scenario | Water Required per Plant (Season) | Equivalent Field Measurement |
|---|---|---|
| Standard High-Yield | 20 – 25 gallons (76 – 95 L) | 22–28 acre-inches |
| Peak Demand / Arid | 30 – 33 gallons (114 – 125 L) | 30+ acre-inches |
| Survival / Low-Yield | ~5 gallons (19 L) | ~10–12 acre-inches |
Detailed Analysis
1. Standard Commercial Requirements (The "22-Inch" Rule)
Most US university extension services (e.g., Nebraska, Iowa State) cite that a high-yielding corn crop requires 22 to 30 inches of water per acre per season. This figure accounts for Crop Evapotranspiration (ETc)—the water transpired by the plant plus water evaporated from the soil.cropscience.bayer+1
Using standard planting densities, we can derive the per-plant requirement:
Total Water: 22 acre-inches = 597,396 gallons of water.
Plant Density: A typical modern commercial field has ~30,000 plants per acre.reddit+1
Calculation: 597,396 gallons ÷ 30,000 plants ≈ 19.9 gallons per plant.
Experimental data from Cornell University Extension corroborates this, explicitly recommending 1.5 gallons per plant per week for vegetable corn. Over a typical 14-16 week growing season, this totals approximately 21–24 gallons.rvpadmin.cce.cornell
2. Experimental Variations
Field experiments underscore how variable this number can be depending on the goal (maximum yield vs. survival).
High-Input Experiments: A study on deficit irrigation published in Agricultural Water Management recorded water use of 83 liters (22 gallons) per plant for standard irrigation treatments, rising to 126 liters (33 gallons) per plant under high-water regimes.sciencedirect
Subsistence/Low-Input: A report on agriculture in East Nusa Tenggara found that maize could reach harvest with as little as 18 liters (~4.8 gallons) of water per plant. However, yields in such systems are often a fraction of commercial averages (e.g., 40 bushels/acre vs. 200+ bushels/acre).kopernik
3. Peak Daily Demand
Water usage is not linear; it peaks dramatically during the reproductive stages (tasseling and silking).
Vegetative Stage: Young plants use very little water, often less than 0.1 inches per day.
Reproductive Stage (Silking/Tasseling): This is the critical window. Experiments show corn can consume 0.25 to 0.40 inches of water per day during this period.crops.extension.iastate+1
Per Plant Peak: At peak heat and growth, a single stalk may transpire roughly 0.25 to 0.50 gallons per day.facebook
4. Key Variables Affecting Water Use
Geography: Corn grown in the humid US Midwest requires less applied water (irrigation) due to lower evaporation rates compared to corn grown in the arid High Plains or Western US, where the plant transpires more rapidly to cool itself.
Yield Targets: There is a linear relationship between water and yield. Producing 250 bushels/acre requires significantly more transpiration (approx. 22 inches) than producing 150 bushels/acre (approx. 16 inches).crops.extension.iastate
Planting Density: Higher density fields (35,000+ plants/acre) create a closed canopy faster, which reduces soil evaporation but increases competition for water between individual stalks.
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