Corn Facts
An ear of corn has an average of sixteen rows with 800 kernels . There are approximately 1,300 kernels in one pound of corn . An acre ( about the size of a football field ) of corn can yield more than 13 million kernels . In the United States , corn production is commonly measured in bushels . This measurement originated as a unit of volume but has been standardized to units of weight for different crops . One bushel of shelled corn is equivalent to 56 pounds ( 25 kg ).
The corn seed ( kernel ) is composed of four main parts : the endosperm , the pericarp , the germ , and the tip cap . The endosperm makes up most of the dry weight of the kernel and provides the source of energy for the seed . The pericarp is the hard , outer coat that protects the kernel both before and after planting . The germ is the living embryo of the corn kernel . It contains genetic information , vitamins , and minerals that the kernel needs to grow . The tip cap is where the kernel is attached to the cob and is the major entry path into the kernel for water and nutrients .
pericarp endosperm
germ
Renew With Corn
Renewable resources are either naturally reproduced at a sustainable rate or they can be produced in agriculture at a rate equivalent to the demand or need . Nonrenewable resources are made naturally by the Earth but do not renew themselves fast enough for people to count on having the resource for an indefinite period of time .
Corn can be used to make a type of plastic known as bioplastic . Commonly , plastic is made from by-products of petroleum used to refine crude oil for fuel and is a nonrenewable resource . In contrast , bioplastic is made from biological materials — plant starches , cellulose , oils , or proteins . Unlike petroleum-based plastics , bioplastics are made from renewable resources such as corn , potatoes , tapioca , and casein ( milk protein ).
Biofuel is any fuel made from biological plant matter rather than fossil fuels . Ethanol is a form of biofuel . It can be made by fermenting sources of starch such as corn , wheat , grain sorghum , barley , potatoes , and sugar crops . Corn is the most common ethanol source due to its abundance in the United States . Biofuels are a product of agriculture and are considered a renewable resource because they can be produced repeatedly , year after year .
Student Activity - Making Bioplastic
Make your own bioplastic using cornstarch , corn oil , and water . Ask your teacher for the instruction page included with this packet of Colorado Readers or find the instructions and demonstration video online at : http :// bit . ly / Reader-Corn tip cap
Hybrids of corn , produced by crossbreeding different varieties , have been developed to grow well in varying conditions and locations worldwide . The development of hybrid varieties , along with synthetic fertilizers and new farm machinery , has facilitated huge increases in corn productivity . Today , more corn can be grown on less land than ever before .
Corn Revolution Video http :// bit . ly / PetersonBrosCorn
The # CornRevolution is here ! An original song and music video dedicated to the research and development behind today ’ s corn plants , from the Peterson Farm Brothers . YouTube link safe for kids !
www . GrowingYourFuture . com - 3