Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2189, FAX: (701) 742-2700, email: rgreenla@ndsuext.nodak.edu

'SUPERSWEET' SWEET CORN HYBRID PERFORMANCE TRIAL, 1996

Richard G Greenland and Leonard Besemann

Sweet corn grows very well in this area of North Dakota. The short summer is compensated for by long days and lots of sunshine. Sweet corn always matures before frost. This performance trial tested 25 hybrids.

Results summary

Table 31. Corn development, ear height and ear removal score.

Table 32. Number of ears per acre and yield.

Table 33. Ear characteristics of sh2 sweet corn.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Soil: Egeland loam and Maddock sandy loam; pH=7.4; 1.9% organic matter; soil-P was very high; soil-K was medium; soil-S was low.

Previous crops: 1995 - cabbage and broccoli; 1994 - onion; 1993 - edible beans.

Seedbed preparation: Field was disked May 3. Multiweeded (field cultivated) on May 10.

Planting: Seeded on May 10 in 30-inch rows. Planting depth was about 3/4 inch. Plots were seeded at a rate of 50,000 seeds/acre, then later thinned to 28,000 plants/acre.

Plots: Plots were 5 rows (12.5 ft) wide by 17 ft long. There were 4 reps.

Fertilizer: On April 17, broadcast 14 lbs N/acre and 70 lbs P₂O₅/acre as 10-50-0, 16 lbs N/acre and 19 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24, and 94 lbs K₂0/acre as 0-0-60. Sprayed 50 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on May 3. Knifed in 100 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on June 20.

Irrigation: Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed.

Pest Control: Frontier and Bladex (1 pt/acre and 1 lb/acre applied on May 13), Aatrex nine-O + Lentagran (0.56 lb + 1.9 lb/acre on June 18), cultivation, and hand weeding controlled weeds. Chemigated Asana (8 oz/acre on July 12 and July 31) to control European corn borer and corn earworm.

Harvest: Hand harvested 23 to 25 days after half-silk date. Only the center row of each plot was harvested. Harvested from Aug. 5 to Aug. 16.

RESULTS

Nova, the only white hybrid in the trial did exceptionally well in yield and quality. Saturn also had very good yield and quality. Bi-honey Supreme yielded well and had good quality ears, but the ears were hard to remove from the stalk. Jumpstart and Discovery had the best looking husked ears, but only medium yields. Skyline and Sweetear, which have done well in the past, had low yields caused by poor germination and early growth. General yield and quality were good for most hybrids tested.

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Table 31. Corn development, ear height and ear removal score for the Oakes Irrigation Research Station 1996 'supersweet' sweet corn performance trial.

Hybrid Seed source¹ Early stand² Days to half-silk Days to harvest Ear height³ Ear removal⁴

1000s/acre inches 1 to 10

First star BU 37.7 65 87 23 6.0

Jumpstart JS 38.9 65 88 23 6.8

Jumpstart IFS 40.2 65 88 25 6.0

JCO 8595 JS 33.3 66 88 23 6.5

FMX 400 FM 33.6 66 88 21 6.5

Everprime IFS 29.5 67 89 27 5.3

Bi-Honey Supreme LI 30.2 68 90 25 4.8

Skyline JS 16.9 68 90 20 5.8

Everprime JS 37.2 68 90 29 5.8

Discovery BU 34.6 68 90 27 7.5

Saturn BU 36.4 69 91 26 6.3

Nova IFS 37.4 70 92 31 6.5

Sweetear FM 15.9 71 92 25 7.5

FMX 412 FM 38.2 72 94 30 6.8

Chieftain IFS 38.7 71 94 35 6.8

Starpak BU 34.3 72 94 29 7.0

A-maizingly sweet FM 35.4 72 94 29 6.0

Eagle JS 30.0 72 95 32 5.0

FMX 355 FM 24.1 73 96 29 5.5

Victor (FMX 329) FM 31.0 74 96 30 7.8

Headliner IFS 39.2 74 97 35 7.5

Starship BU 33.6 74 97 33 6.5

Tartan JS 26.1 75 97 30 4.8

Bi-Honey crisp LI 31.8 75 98 29 6.5

Autumn star BU 34.3 76 98 35 6.8

LSD (0.05) 5.2 1 1 2 1.1

C.V. (%) 11 1 1 6 12

¹See appendix A for seed source.

²Corn was over planted. After stand count, corn was thinned to about 28,000 plants/acre (unless there were fewer than 28,000 plants that emerged).

³Distance from ground to base of ear.

⁴Indicates ease of ear removal. The higher the score, the easier it was to remove the ear.

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Table 32. Number of ears per acre and yield of sweet corn in the Oakes Irrigation Research Station 1996 'supersweet' sweet corn performance trial.

Hybrid Seed source¹ Unhusked Husked

marketable total marketable total

ears yield ears yield ears yield ears yield

1000s/A tons/Ac 1000s/A tons/Ac 1000s/A tons/A 1000s/A tons/A

First star BU 28.4 abc 9.7 c-h 32.0 a-d 10.3 c-g 24.9 abc 6.0 a-e 32.0 a-d 7.0 bcd

Jumpstart JS 25.9 b-f 9.5 c-j 27.9 def 9.8 c-i 24.1 abc 6.2 a-d 27.9 def 6.7 cde

Jumpstart IFS 27.2 bcd 9.9 c-f 29.0 c-f 10.2 c-h 25.4 ab 6.6 a 29.0 c-f 7.0 bcd

JCO 8595 JS 27.9 a-d 8.5 h-l 36.4 a 9.7 c-i 24.3 abc 5.2 e-j 36.4 a 6.6 c-g

FMX 400 FM 25.4 b-f 7.7 klm 31.5 a-e 8.6 ij 24.3 abc 5.3 d-i 31.3 a-e 6.1 d-i

Everprime IFS 26.4 b-e 8.5 g-l 31.0 a-e 9.2 f-i 21.0 c-g 4.4 jkl 31.3 a-e 5.6 g-j

Bi-Honey Supreme LI 32.0 a 11.6 a 35.1 ab 12.1 ab 26.4 a 6.3 abc 35.1 ab 7.4 abc

Skyline JS 19.7 ghi 6.7 m 24.3 fgh 7.4 j 13.1 j 3.5 l 23.8 fg 4.8 j

Everprime JS 25.4 b-f 7.6 klm 32.5 a-d 8.8 hi 21.3 c-g 4.4 jkl 32.5 a-d 5.7 g-j

Discovery BU 25.1 b-f 8.4 I-l 26.1 efg 8.5 ij 22.5 a-d 5.1 f-k 26.1 ef 5.5 ij

Saturn BU 29.5 ab 10.0 b-e 33.8 abc 10.7 cde 23.8 abc 5.6 b-h 33.8 abc 6.9 bcd

Nova IFS 29.2 ab 11.3 ab 35.1 ab 12.3 a 23.3 a-d 6.5 a 35.1 ab 8.1 a

Sweetear FM 17.9 i 8.7 e-k 20.5 h 9.2 f-i 14.6 ij 4.9 h-k 20.5 g 5.8 e-i

FMX 412 FM 24.6 c-f 7.7 klm 30.0 b-e 8.6 ij 19.7 d-g 4.3 kl 30.0 b-e 5.7 f-j

Chieftain IFS 26.6 b-e 10.3 abc 29.2 c-f 10.7 bcd 22.3 b-e 5.9 a-f 29.2 c-f 7.0 bcd

Starpak BU 26.4 b-e 8.4 jkl 32.5 a-d 9.5 d-i 23.8 abc 4.9 h-k 32.5 a-d 5.9 e-i

A-maizingly sweet FM 23.8 d-g 9.9 c-f 29.2 c-f 10.9 bcd 19.7 d-g 5.5 c-h 29.2 c-f 6.6 c-f

Eagle JS 23.6 d-g 10.1 bcd 27.2 def 10.7 bcd 17.9 f-i 5.8 a-g 27.4 def 7.3 abc

FMX 355 FM 23.8 d-g 9.7 c-i 28.4 c-f 10.6 c-f 18.4 e-i 5.6 c-h 27.9 def 6.9 bcd

Victor
(FMX 329) FM 26.1 b-e 10.3 bcd 30.0 b-e 10.9 a-d 21.8 b-f 6.5 ab 30.0 b-e 7.8 ab

Headliner IFS 24.1 c-g 9.1 c-j 28.4 c-f 9.9 c-i 18.7 e-h 4.4 jk 28.4 c-f 5.8 e-j

Starship BU 21.5 f-i 8.6 f-k 27.2 def 9.7 c-i 17.7 ghi 4.6 ijk 27.2 def 5.7 f-j

Tartan JS 18.4 hi 8.9 d-k 20.8 gh 9.3 e-i 15.6 hij 4.9 g-k 20.5 g 5.6 hij

Bi-Honey crisp LI 19.7 ghi 7.1 lm 28.5 c-f 8.9 g-j 17.9 f-i 4.4 I-l 28.5 c-f 5.8 e-j

Autumn star BU 22.5 e-h 9.8 c-g 28.2 def 10.9 abc 18.4 e-i 5.3 e-j 28.2 def 6.5 c-h

C.V. (%) 13 10 13 10 13 12 13 11

¹See appendix A for seed source.

Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 0.05 level.

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Table 33. Ear characteristics of sh₂ sweet corn in the Oakes Irrigation Research Station 1996 'supersweet' sweet corn performance trial.

Hybrid Seed source¹ Color Distance husk over tip² Husk overall score Ear length Ear diameter Rows of kernels Tip unfilled³ Yellow intensity⁴ Ear overall score

inches 1 to 10 ----- inches ----- inches 1 to 3 1 to 10

First star BU bi 1.0 6.5 8.1 1.7 13 0.4 1.3 7.5

Jumpstart JS bi 3.2 7.1 8.1 1.8 13 0.0 1.3 8.0

Jumpstart IFS bi 2.7 7.5 7.8 1.8 13 0.0 1.8 8.0

JCO 8595 JS bi 1.1 6.3 7.3 1.8 16 0.0 1.3 7.0

FMX 400 FM bi 0.7 6.3 7.5 1.8 16 0.0 1.5 7.5

Everprime IFS bi 1.2 6.9 7.4 1.6 16 0.0 1.3 6.8

Bi-Honey Supreme LI bi 1.6 7.8 7.6 1.8 16 0.0 1.3 7.5

Skyline JS bi 0.4 6.0 7.8 1.8 14 0.3 1.8 7.0

Everprime JS bi 1.9 6.9 7.1 1.6 16 0.0 1.5 7.0

Discovery BU y 1.5 6.9 7.7 1.8 15 0.0 1.8 8.3

Saturn BU y 1.3 7.8 7.5 1.8 15 0.2 2.0 7.8

Nova IFS w 1.2 6.8 8.0 1.9 16 0.1 - 7.5

Sweetear FM y 2.6 7.0 8.1 1.9 18 0.0 2.1 7.8

FMX 412 FM y 1.5 6.3 7.4 1.7 18 0.0 2.0 6.5

Chieftain IFS y 1.0 7.1 8.1 1.8 18 0.8 2.0 7.0

Starpak BU bi 1.3 7.6 7.0 1.8 20 0.0 1.8 6.8

A-maizingly sweet FM bi 1.2 6.8 7.7 1.8 20 0.2 1.8 6.8

Eagle JS bi 0.8 6.0 8.1 1.9 21 0.6 1.8 6.0

FMX 355 FM bi 1.3 6.8 7.9 1.9 18 0.1 1.8 7.8

Victor (FMX 329) FM y 0.7 6.0 8.1 1.9 19 0.2 2.0 7.3

Headliner IFS bi 1.6 8.0 7.4 1.8 19 0.0 1.5 7.3

Starship BU bi 0.4 6.1 8.2 1.8 18 0.0 1.3 7.5

Tartan JS bi 1.0 7.0 8.2 2.0 21 0.0 1.8 7.5

Bi-Honey crisp LI bi 1.5 6.6 7.4 1.9 17 0.1 1.3 7.3

Autumn star BU bi 1.9 6.9 8.0 1.9 18 0.4 2.0 7.3

LSD (0.05) 0.7 1.2 0.5 0.1 2 0.3 0.6 0.9

C.V. (%) 37 13 5 5 9 157 24 9

¹See appendix A for seed source codes.

²The distance the husk extends beyond the end of the ear.

³Length of unfilled ear tip.

⁴Gives darkness of yellow kernels on ear. 1 = light yellow; 2 = medium yellow; 3 = dark yellow.

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Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site Variety Performance Trials

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site 1996 annual report

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site crop index

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site home page

Soil:	Egeland loam and Maddock sandy loam; pH=7.4; 1.9% organic matter; soil-P was very high; soil-K was medium; soil-S was low.
Previous crops:	1995 - cabbage and broccoli; 1994 - onion; 1993 - edible beans.
Seedbed preparation:	Field was disked May 3. Multiweeded (field cultivated) on May 10.
Planting:	Seeded on May 10 in 30-inch rows. Planting depth was about 3/4 inch. Plots were seeded at a rate of 50,000 seeds/acre, then later thinned to 28,000 plants/acre.
Plots:	Plots were 5 rows (12.5 ft) wide by 17 ft long. There were 4 reps.
Fertilizer:	On April 17, broadcast 14 lbs N/acre and 70 lbs P₂O₅/acre as 10-50-0, 16 lbs N/acre and 19 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24, and 94 lbs K₂0/acre as 0-0-60. Sprayed 50 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on May 3. Knifed in 100 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on June 20.
Irrigation:	Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed.
Pest Control:	Frontier and Bladex (1 pt/acre and 1 lb/acre applied on May 13), Aatrex nine-O + Lentagran (0.56 lb + 1.9 lb/acre on June 18), cultivation, and hand weeding controlled weeds. Chemigated Asana (8 oz/acre on July 12 and July 31) to control European corn borer and corn earworm.
Harvest:	Hand harvested 23 to 25 days after half-silk date. Only the center row of each plot was harvested. Harvested from Aug. 5 to Aug. 16.

Hybrid	Seed source¹	Early stand²	Days to half-silk	Days to harvest	Ear height³	Ear removal⁴
		1000s/acre			inches	1 to 10
First star	BU	37.7	65	87	23	6.0
Jumpstart	JS	38.9	65	88	23	6.8
Jumpstart	IFS	40.2	65	88	25	6.0
JCO 8595	JS	33.3	66	88	23	6.5
FMX 400	FM	33.6	66	88	21	6.5
Everprime	IFS	29.5	67	89	27	5.3
Bi-Honey Supreme	LI	30.2	68	90	25	4.8
Skyline	JS	16.9	68	90	20	5.8
Everprime	JS	37.2	68	90	29	5.8
Discovery	BU	34.6	68	90	27	7.5
Saturn	BU	36.4	69	91	26	6.3
Nova	IFS	37.4	70	92	31	6.5
Sweetear	FM	15.9	71	92	25	7.5
FMX 412	FM	38.2	72	94	30	6.8
Chieftain	IFS	38.7	71	94	35	6.8
Starpak	BU	34.3	72	94	29	7.0
A-maizingly sweet	FM	35.4	72	94	29	6.0
Eagle	JS	30.0	72	95	32	5.0
FMX 355	FM	24.1	73	96	29	5.5
Victor (FMX 329)	FM	31.0	74	96	30	7.8
Headliner	IFS	39.2	74	97	35	7.5
Starship	BU	33.6	74	97	33	6.5
Tartan	JS	26.1	75	97	30	4.8
Bi-Honey crisp	LI	31.8	75	98	29	6.5
Autumn star	BU	34.3	76	98	35	6.8

LSD (0.05)		5.2	1	1	2	1.1
C.V. (%)		11	1	1	6	12

Hybrid	Seed source¹	Unhusked				Husked
		marketable		total		marketable		total
		ears	yield	ears	yield	ears	yield	ears	yield
		1000s/A	tons/Ac	1000s/A	tons/Ac	1000s/A	tons/A	1000s/A	tons/A
First star	BU	28.4 abc	9.7 c-h	32.0 a-d	10.3 c-g	24.9 abc	6.0 a-e	32.0 a-d	7.0 bcd
Jumpstart	JS	25.9 b-f	9.5 c-j	27.9 def	9.8 c-i	24.1 abc	6.2 a-d	27.9 def	6.7 cde
Jumpstart	IFS	27.2 bcd	9.9 c-f	29.0 c-f	10.2 c-h	25.4 ab	6.6 a	29.0 c-f	7.0 bcd
JCO 8595	JS	27.9 a-d	8.5 h-l	36.4 a	9.7 c-i	24.3 abc	5.2 e-j	36.4 a	6.6 c-g
FMX 400	FM	25.4 b-f	7.7 klm	31.5 a-e	8.6 ij	24.3 abc	5.3 d-i	31.3 a-e	6.1 d-i
Everprime	IFS	26.4 b-e	8.5 g-l	31.0 a-e	9.2 f-i	21.0 c-g	4.4 jkl	31.3 a-e	5.6 g-j
Bi-Honey Supreme	LI	32.0 a	11.6 a	35.1 ab	12.1 ab	26.4 a	6.3 abc	35.1 ab	7.4 abc
Skyline	JS	19.7 ghi	6.7 m	24.3 fgh	7.4 j	13.1 j	3.5 l	23.8 fg	4.8 j
Everprime	JS	25.4 b-f	7.6 klm	32.5 a-d	8.8 hi	21.3 c-g	4.4 jkl	32.5 a-d	5.7 g-j
Discovery	BU	25.1 b-f	8.4 I-l	26.1 efg	8.5 ij	22.5 a-d	5.1 f-k	26.1 ef	5.5 ij
Saturn	BU	29.5 ab	10.0 b-e	33.8 abc	10.7 cde	23.8 abc	5.6 b-h	33.8 abc	6.9 bcd
Nova	IFS	29.2 ab	11.3 ab	35.1 ab	12.3 a	23.3 a-d	6.5 a	35.1 ab	8.1 a
Sweetear	FM	17.9 i	8.7 e-k	20.5 h	9.2 f-i	14.6 ij	4.9 h-k	20.5 g	5.8 e-i
FMX 412	FM	24.6 c-f	7.7 klm	30.0 b-e	8.6 ij	19.7 d-g	4.3 kl	30.0 b-e	5.7 f-j
Chieftain	IFS	26.6 b-e	10.3 abc	29.2 c-f	10.7 bcd	22.3 b-e	5.9 a-f	29.2 c-f	7.0 bcd
Starpak	BU	26.4 b-e	8.4 jkl	32.5 a-d	9.5 d-i	23.8 abc	4.9 h-k	32.5 a-d	5.9 e-i
A-maizingly sweet	FM	23.8 d-g	9.9 c-f	29.2 c-f	10.9 bcd	19.7 d-g	5.5 c-h	29.2 c-f	6.6 c-f
Eagle	JS	23.6 d-g	10.1 bcd	27.2 def	10.7 bcd	17.9 f-i	5.8 a-g	27.4 def	7.3 abc
FMX 355	FM	23.8 d-g	9.7 c-i	28.4 c-f	10.6 c-f	18.4 e-i	5.6 c-h	27.9 def	6.9 bcd
Victor (FMX 329)	FM	26.1 b-e	10.3 bcd	30.0 b-e	10.9 a-d	21.8 b-f	6.5 ab	30.0 b-e	7.8 ab
Headliner	IFS	24.1 c-g	9.1 c-j	28.4 c-f	9.9 c-i	18.7 e-h	4.4 jk	28.4 c-f	5.8 e-j
Starship	BU	21.5 f-i	8.6 f-k	27.2 def	9.7 c-i	17.7 ghi	4.6 ijk	27.2 def	5.7 f-j
Tartan	JS	18.4 hi	8.9 d-k	20.8 gh	9.3 e-i	15.6 hij	4.9 g-k	20.5 g	5.6 hij
Bi-Honey crisp	LI	19.7 ghi	7.1 lm	28.5 c-f	8.9 g-j	17.9 f-i	4.4 I-l	28.5 c-f	5.8 e-j
Autumn star	BU	22.5 e-h	9.8 c-g	28.2 def	10.9 abc	18.4 e-i	5.3 e-j	28.2 def	6.5 c-h

C.V. (%)		13	10	13	10	13	12	13	11

Hybrid	Seed source¹	Color	Distance husk over tip²	Husk overall score	Ear length	Ear diameter	Rows of kernels	Tip unfilled³	Yellow intensity⁴	Ear overall score
			inches	1 to 10	----- inches -----			inches	1 to 3	1 to 10
First star	BU	bi	1.0	6.5	8.1	1.7	13	0.4	1.3	7.5
Jumpstart	JS	bi	3.2	7.1	8.1	1.8	13	0.0	1.3	8.0
Jumpstart	IFS	bi	2.7	7.5	7.8	1.8	13	0.0	1.8	8.0
JCO 8595	JS	bi	1.1	6.3	7.3	1.8	16	0.0	1.3	7.0
FMX 400	FM	bi	0.7	6.3	7.5	1.8	16	0.0	1.5	7.5
Everprime	IFS	bi	1.2	6.9	7.4	1.6	16	0.0	1.3	6.8
Bi-Honey Supreme	LI	bi	1.6	7.8	7.6	1.8	16	0.0	1.3	7.5
Skyline	JS	bi	0.4	6.0	7.8	1.8	14	0.3	1.8	7.0
Everprime	JS	bi	1.9	6.9	7.1	1.6	16	0.0	1.5	7.0
Discovery	BU	y	1.5	6.9	7.7	1.8	15	0.0	1.8	8.3
Saturn	BU	y	1.3	7.8	7.5	1.8	15	0.2	2.0	7.8
Nova	IFS	w	1.2	6.8	8.0	1.9	16	0.1	-	7.5
Sweetear	FM	y	2.6	7.0	8.1	1.9	18	0.0	2.1	7.8
FMX 412	FM	y	1.5	6.3	7.4	1.7	18	0.0	2.0	6.5
Chieftain	IFS	y	1.0	7.1	8.1	1.8	18	0.8	2.0	7.0
Starpak	BU	bi	1.3	7.6	7.0	1.8	20	0.0	1.8	6.8
A-maizingly sweet	FM	bi	1.2	6.8	7.7	1.8	20	0.2	1.8	6.8
Eagle	JS	bi	0.8	6.0	8.1	1.9	21	0.6	1.8	6.0
FMX 355	FM	bi	1.3	6.8	7.9	1.9	18	0.1	1.8	7.8
Victor (FMX 329)	FM	y	0.7	6.0	8.1	1.9	19	0.2	2.0	7.3
Headliner	IFS	bi	1.6	8.0	7.4	1.8	19	0.0	1.5	7.3
Starship	BU	bi	0.4	6.1	8.2	1.8	18	0.0	1.3	7.5
Tartan	JS	bi	1.0	7.0	8.2	2.0	21	0.0	1.8	7.5
Bi-Honey crisp	LI	bi	1.5	6.6	7.4	1.9	17	0.1	1.3	7.3
Autumn star	BU	bi	1.9	6.9	8.0	1.9	18	0.4	2.0	7.3

LSD (0.05)			0.7	1.2	0.5	0.1	2	0.3	0.6	0.9
C.V. (%)			37	13	5	5	9	157	24	9