Model predicts sweet corn quality

American scientists have developed a crop simulation model that can predict the quality and yield of sweet corn.

According to research published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, Jon Lizaso and a team of researchers from the Universities of Florida and Georgia developed the simulation to create a reliable method of predicting the timing, quality and weight of sweet corn.

"The sweet corn market is based on the quality of fresh market whole ears, which is different from the dry grain measure used in the field corn market," said Lizaso. "We found that modifying a well-known field corn simulation model was enough to correctly simulate the growth and production of fresh market sweet corn."

Lizaso said he believes the research and model hold significant promise for sweet corn producers, technical consultants, extension agents and the agricultural industry, as well as the larger horticultural and scientific communities.