The corncob, made up of sun-golden grains, has been a popular choice for centuries. In terms of the amount of vitamins, micro and macro elements, it occupies one of the leading positions among cereals, and in importance it is ranked third after wheat and rice... What is the history of the origin and distribution of this cereal and what determines the love for it all over the world.
The first mentions and history of development, where is the birthplace of cereals
The homeland of sweet corn is definitely America. Its first descriptions date back to the II-III millennium BC. The ancient Indians used the culture for food in fried, boiled form, made flour for baking cakes from it, made wines and various syrups from the sprouted grains. Suffice it to say that the Indians considered the god of fertility Tlaloc to be the god of corn. Even then, she was a cultivated plant and her wild species are unknown.
Of course, Columbus was the first who brought "maize grains" to Europe after he discovered America. From Spain and Portugal, the culture spread throughout the Eurasian continent, and began to grow it even in Africa. Ukraine is one of the European leaders in corn growing. The Spaniards gave it a sonorous name - "kukucho", which means "sharp hood".
Proof of how important this cereal is for humans is the high degree of its cultivation: corn has lost its ability to shower grains and reproduce itself, and its seeds for sowing must be carefully stored in dry rooms, otherwise they deteriorate and lose the ability to germinate.
The appearance of a cultivated plant where it can be grown
Nowadays, corn is one of the main cultivated crops in more than 60 countries of the world. This was due to its ability to perfectly adapt to various climatic conditions and gave rise to an abundance of plant forms and species as well as its high yield.
Corn (maize) is an annual herb with a powerful root, reaching a height of 3 meters. Its stem is hollow inside, very strong, covered with long leaves, from the nests of which cobs grow. Due to its plasticity - the ability to adapt and change - corn performance fluctuates depending on where it grows:
- height - from 80 cm to 6 meters;
- the number of leaves - from 8 to 40 pieces;
- cob length - from 4 to 50 cm;
- the weight of one ear is from 30 g to 0.5 kg.
The size and number of kernels on the cob also differ.
The benefits of corn grains for the human body
In terms of its chemical composition, this cereal is truly unique - 26 elements of the periodic table plus a huge amount of vitamins. Golden grains lead in iron content - 3700 mcg, zinc - 1750 mcg, manganese - 1100 mcg. Potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iodine, gold, selenium, unsaturated fatty acids, mono and disaccharides, ash, a very high content of starch and folic acid (B9), vitamins of group B, PP, C, E - this is not yet a complete list of substances not only useful, but simply irreplaceable for the human body.
It has been proven that corn has high nutritional and biological activity, is easily absorbed by the body, therefore it is so useful during diets.
With an average calorie content, the product is able to quickly saturate the body, reduce appetite, therefore it is useful for consumption even with obesity.
It is interesting that canned cereal grains retain all the beneficial properties and qualities. Most useful when boiled. Tip: Always boil the ears without salt, otherwise the beans will become dry and tough. Due to its unique composition centuries-old culture has a beneficial effect on humans:
- normalizes the activity of the nervous system, helps to overcome stress;
- the high content of vitamin B1 provides good health, relieves fatigue, rapid fatigue, irritability, regulates the digestive system - 150 g of corn contains a quarter of the daily value of thianine (B1);
- vitamin E gives antioxidant properties, helps to prolong youth, prevents sclerosis;
improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, reduces the risk of cancer; - helps to restore metabolism.
Application Description
First of all, it is a boiled ear. Both adults and children eat them with great pleasure. Canned corn is used to prepare salads and dishes. Corn oil is very useful - a strong antioxidant, which is also used for salads, cooking, frying and baking.
Incidentally, popcorn - fried grains - is even healthier than canned corn when cooked without the addition of salt, sugar, and vegetable oil.
The stems of the plant have found application in the production of artificial fibers, glue, paper, building materials, packaging, and it is even difficult to list where else.
A decoction of corn stigmas - the hairs around the cob - is a valuable medicine and effectively helps with cholecystitis, hepatitis, kidney stones, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and also has a diuretic effect. And no matter how many applications you list, you will still forget something.
How to achieve high yields per hectare
It is a very popular agricultural crop, as it easily adapts to weather and climatic conditions, has a high yield and a wide range of applications.
Farmers cultivating this crop strive to reap the largest possible yield.
The yield depends on many factors:
- cereal variety, planting purpose (grain, silage);
- the composition of the soil, its saturation with oxygen (it is necessary to plow to a depth of 25-30 cm);
- weather;
- the possibility of watering at least 2 times (some varieties - 3-4 watering).
Under favorable agrotechnical conditions, the most popular varieties in Russia give high yields:
- variety Lakomka - up to 50 cents per hectare;
- Spirit grade - 70ts per hectare.
Good yields are produced by domestic varieties Corsair, Bemo182, Collective 181, Dokuchaevsky. To achieve high yields, it is necessary to fertilize the soil with organic fertilizers (40 tons of manure per hectare), to apply minerals throughout the growing season. Before planting, be sure to destroy all weeds, otherwise they will not allow the grain to germinate. The precursors should be potatoes, legumes, pulses, alfalfa, or clover. At the summer cottage, in the garden, regular loosening of the soil and timely watering will be effective.
Undoubtedly, corn is a unique cereal crop, therefore it has been cultivated for several millennia and is still one of the three leaders in cereals on our planet.
Daily consumption of 100-150g of sun seeds will bring you pleasure and benefits for the whole body.