By Curt Jacobs
Geneseo Current
If you have spent some time on social media recently or you have watched your local news you have most likely heard about corn sweat, but what is it? Corn sweat refers to the process of evapotranspiration, where corn plants release moisture into the atmosphere. This occurs when the plants absorb water from the soil through their roots, which is then transported to their leaves. Tiny pores on the leaves, called stomata, open during the day to allow carbon dioxide in for photosynthesis while simultaneously releasing water vapor into the air.
Why does this happen? This process helps cool the plant, similar to how sweating cools humans. The plants need to regulate their temperature to survive.
While the term "corn sweat" is popular, it's important to note that all plants undergo evapotranspiration, not just corn. Some research suggests that soybeans may contribute even more moisture than corn in certain cases.
Corn sweat is a natural process that plays a significant role in local weather patterns, particularly in the Midwest. While it can make summer heat feel more oppressive, it's also a sign of healthy, growing crops.
How much water is given off by a corn plant? Let's do some math and give it some real numbers. On average a plant can give up 3 - 4 cups of water per day. Lets just use 3 cups per day, 1 acre and 34,000 plants per acre.
That 1 acre would give off approximately 6,375 gallons of water. That is from an acre of corn or about 1 football field of area. An 80 acre field could give off just over 500,000 gallons of water a day. That’s enough water to fill one Olympic swimming pool.