Term used when the crop canopy becomes flattened by heavy rains. Often triggered by severe weather at the soft dough stage. The problem is a combination of heavy heads and weak stems. Modern breeding increases stem strength.
When plants fall over and lie flat on the soil surface, especially cereal grain crops, often due to wind, hail, and/or excessive stem growth.
The amount of soybean plants fallen or laying on the ground at harvest. The following scale was used: 1 - almost all plants erect; 2 - all plants leaning slightly or a few plants down; 3 - all plants leaning moderately (45 degrees), or 25 to 50% of the plants down; 4 - all plants leaning considerably, or 50 to 80% of the plants down; 5 - almost all plants down.
Strong wind and poor root growth can cause a plant to lodge or fall over. A way to prevent lodging is to "hill up" or build dirt around the primary stem of the plant to help support it and to stimulate additional root growth. Lodging can also also be an indication of a potassium deficiency in the soil.
Applies particularly to cereals where the crop has been flattened by the wind or rain, or if the stems are unable to support the weight of the grain
The collapse of top heavy plants, particularly grain crops because of excess growth or beating by rain.
Lodging is when cereal crops fall over, often due to wind or rain pressure, making grain harvest difficult. See also Growth regulators.