Oakes
CORN POPULATION AND ROW WIDTH STUDY
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Ears/plant vs irrigated corn
yield Chart
Hoessen
Sayfikar from 1977-78 found irrigated corn yields to be 200 and 186 bu/ac in 20
and 30-inch rows, respectively, at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site. Walt Albus found irrigated corn yields of
189 and 179 bu/ac for 20 and 30-inch rows at this Site in 1980-82. Corn yielded 12 bu/ac more in 20-inch versus
30-inch rows for the four years. Row
width studies in the Northern Cornbelt have demonstrated increasing yields as
row widths are narrowed, especially in high yield environments. There has also been interest in corn grown
in paired rows on 30-inch centers. The
paired rows reduce inter-row plant competition while allowing harvest with
30-inch row corn heads. This study was
initiated to determine the response of corn grown in 15-inch, 30-inch and
paired rows 10-inches apart on 30-inch centers at plant populations of 25,000,
30,000 and 25,000 plants/acre.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Maddock sandy loam and Egeland loam;
pH=6.6; 2.7% organic matter; soil-P, soil-K and soil-S were very high. |
|
Previous crop: |
2005 - carrot, pepper, hairy vetch and
onion; 2004 - sweet corn, hairy vetch, onion and soybean; 2003 - carrot,
edible bean and onion. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Disk on April 24 to level field and
incorporate fertilizer. Multiweed
(field cultivate) twice on April 25 to smooth the seedbed. |
|
Planting: |
Planted on May 5 in 30-inch, 30-inch paired
(2 rows 10-inches apart on 30‑inch centers) and 15-inch row spacing. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 34 ft long by 10 ft wide. Plots with 30-inch row spacing had
4 rows; 30-paired (30pr) had 4 paired rows; plots with 15-inch spacing
had 8 rows. Corn was planted at 30K,
35K and 40K per acre and thinned to 25K, 30K and 35K per acre on May 30. There were four reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
On
April 10, broadcast 20 lbs N/acre, 45 lbs P2O5/acre, 51
lbs K2O/acre and 13 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24, 11-52-0 and
0-0-60 and on April 24 applied 50 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0.
Applied 100 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on May 15. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Applied Outlook (1 pt/acre on May 8),
Buctril + Atrazine 90% (1 pt + 0.6 lb/acre on May 25) and
Glyphosate Original + NIS + AMS + Interlock (1 qt/acre + 0.05%v/v +1 lb/10
gal + 6 oz/acre on June 1). |
|
Harvest: |
Hand harvested on October 2 and October
3. Harvest area was one row from the
30-inch row plots, one paired row from the 30-inched paired row plots and two
rows from the 15-inch row plots. |
Go to top of corn population and row width study
Dekalb DKC 47-10 and Pioneer 38H65 were planted in a split, split plot arrangement with hybrid as main plots, row width as split plots and population as split, split plots. Row width had no significant effect on yield or other parameters tested. This is surprising at this high yield level and contrary to past data. Dekalb DKC 47-10 and Pioneer 38H65 averaged 246 and 236 bu/acre. Increasing plant population increased yield from 230 bu/acre at 25,000 plants/acre to 251 bu/acre at 35,000 plants/acre. There was a significant interaction between row width and population. Yield increased 21 bu/acre in 15-inch row when populations were increased from 25,000 to 30,000 plants/acre compared to an increase of 9 and 11 bu/acre in 30-inch and 30‑inch paired rows (30pr), respectively. There was a trend for yield to be higher in 15-inch rows compared to 30-inch rows at 35,000 plants/acre. Increasing plant populations increased ear height from 50 inches at 25,000 plants/acre to 53 inches at 35,000 plants/acre. Hybrid and population significantly affected stalk lodging. Stalk lodging was 2.5 times greater in DKC 47-10 than in 38H65. Although there was not a significant interaction between hybrid and population, there is very strong trend for lodging to increase with increasing populations in DKC 47-10. Harvest populations of 24,000, 29,700 and 33,400 plants/acre were very close to the target populations of 25,000, 30,000 and 35,000.
Pioneer 38H65 and DCK 47-10 averaged 1.27 and 1.41 ears/plant. Increasing populations decreased ears/plant from 1.53 at 25,000 plants/acre to 1.18 at 35,000 plants/acre. There was an interaction between hybrid and population. Pioneer 38H65 averaged 1.4 ears/plant compared to 1.7 ears/plant for DKC 47-10 at 25,000 plants/acre. The number of ears/plant was unusually high for all treatment combinations. Data at this Site collected from 1986-88 for four hybrids shown in the figure below, shows optimum yields at 0.97 to 1.01 ears/plant. Although conditions were favorable for multiple ears (prolific) in 2006, multiple ears on the edges of the plots had a significant impact on increasing ear to plant ratios. Thus in subsequent testing the last two feet on the ends of the harvested rows will not be a part of the harvested area.
This study will be continued with particular interest in the effect of row width on yield. It was somewhat baffling to find no response to narrow or paired rows in 2006. It will be very interesting to see if this was a fluke or if current hybrids grown with current agricultural practices respond differently to row width than past data would indicate.
Go to top of corn population and row width study
Table 28. Results of the field corn row spacing and population study at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site in 2006.
|
|
Yield |
Moisture |
Test wt. |
Ear height |
Lodging |
Stalk # |
Ear/plant |
|
bu/acre |
% |
lb/bu |
inches |
|
1000s/A |
|
|
|
Dekalb 4710 |
245.8 |
20.3 |
60.4 |
50 |
3.0 |
28.9 |
1.4 |
|
Pioneer 38H65 |
236.4 |
21.6 |
58.3 |
54 |
1.2 |
29.7 |
1.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LSD (0.05) |
NS |
1.2 |
0.2 |
NS |
0.5 |
NS |
0.1 |
|
C.V. (%) |
12.3 |
7.5 |
0.5 |
12 |
84 |
4.8 |
12.2 |
|
|
Yield |
Moisture |
Test wt. |
Ear height |
Lodging |
Stalk # |
Ear/plant |
|
bu/acre |
% |
lb/bu |
inches |
|
1000s/A |
|
|
|
25K |
229.5 |
21.0 |
59.3 |
50 |
1.8 |
24.7 |
1.5 |
|
30K |
243.3 |
20.8 |
59.4 |
52 |
2.1 |
29.7 |
1.3 |
|
35K |
250.5 |
21.1 |
59.3 |
53 |
2.5 |
33.4 |
1.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LSD (0.05) |
4.4 |
NS |
NS |
1 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.04 |
|
C.V. (%) |
3.1 |
2.7 |
0.5 |
4 |
38 |
3 |
5.5 |
Go to top of corn population and row width study
|
|
Yield |
Moisture |
Test wt. |
Ear height |
Lodging |
Stalk # |
Ear/plant |
|
bu/acre |
% |
lb/bu |
inches |
|
1000s/A |
|
|
|
15 |
241.3 |
20.9 |
59.3 |
52 |
2.3 |
29.4 |
1.4 |
|
30 |
241.6 |
21.3 |
59.3 |
51 |
1.8 |
29.1 |
1.3 |
|
30pr |
240.4 |
20.8 |
59.4 |
52 |
2.3 |
29.3 |
1.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LSD (0.05) |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
|
C.V. (%) |
8.8 |
5.9 |
0.8 |
7 |
81 |
3.9 |
8.2 |
|
|
Yield |
Moisture |
Test wt. |
Ear height |
Lodging |
Stalk # |
Ear/plant |
|
bu/acre |
% |
lb/bu |
inches |
|
1000s/A |
|
|
|
Dekalb 15 |
248.6 |
20.2 |
60.4 |
51 |
3.4 |
29.3 |
1.5 |
|
Pioneer 15 |
233.9 |
21.6 |
58.2 |
54 |
1.2 |
29.5 |
1.3 |
|
Dekalb 30 |
244.7 |
20.7 |
60.3 |
49 |
2.5 |
28.4 |
1.4 |
|
Pioneer 30 |
238.5 |
21.8 |
58.3 |
53 |
1.1 |
29.8 |
1.2 |
|
Dekalb 30pr |
244.1 |
20.1 |
60.4 |
49 |
3.2 |
29.0 |
1.4 |
|
Pioneer 30pr |
236.8 |
21.6 |
58.5 |
55 |
1.3 |
29.6 |
1.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LSD (0.05) |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
Go to top of corn population and row width study
|
|
Yield |
Moisture |
Test wt. |
Ear height |
Lodging |
Stalk # |
Ear/plant |
|
bu/acre |
% |
lb/bu |
inches |
|
1000s/A |
|
|
|
Dekalb 25K |
233.7 |
20.2 |
60.4 |
48 |
2.5 |
24.2 |
1.7 |
|
Pioneer 25K |
225.4 |
21.8 |
58.3 |
53 |
1.2 |
25.3 |
1.4 |
|
Dekalb 30K |
247.8 |
20.2 |
60.3 |
50 |
3.0 |
29.6 |
1.3 |
|
Pioneer 30K |
238.7 |
21.4 |
58.4 |
55 |
1.2 |
29.7 |
1.3 |
|
Dekalb 35K |
255.9 |
20.5 |
60.4 |
51 |
3.7 |
32.9 |
1.2 |
|
Pioneer 35K |
245.1 |
21.7 |
58.3 |
55 |
1.3 |
34.0 |
1.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LSD (0.05) |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
0.1 |
|
|
Yield |
Moisture |
Test wt. |
Ear height |
Lodging |
Stalk # |
Ear/plant |
Row
Width by pop
|
bu/acre |
% |
lb/bu |
inches |
|
1000s/A |
|
|
15 25K |
223.5 |
20.9 |
59.2 |
51 |
1.9 |
24.4 |
1.6 |
|
30 25K |
232.8 |
21.4 |
59.4 |
49 |
1.6 |
24.9 |
1.5 |
|
30pr 25K |
232.3 |
20.7 |
59.4 |
52 |
1.9 |
24.9 |
1.6 |
|
15 30K |
245.1 |
20.7 |
59.4 |
52 |
2.3 |
30.0 |
1.3 |
|
30 30K |
242.1 |
20.9 |
59.3 |
52 |
1.8 |
29.4 |
1.3 |
|
30pr 30K |
242.7 |
20.9 |
59.5 |
53 |
2.3 |
29.6 |
1.3 |
|
15 35K |
255.2 |
21.0 |
59.3 |
54 |
2.8 |
33.9 |
1.2 |
|
30 35K |
250.1 |
21.5 |
59.3 |
52 |
2.0 |
32.9 |
1.2 |
|
30pr 35K |
246.3 |
20.8 |
59.4 |
52 |
2.6 |
33.4 |
1.2 |
|
LSD (0.05) |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
Go to top of corn population and row width study
|
|
Yield |
Moisture |
Test wt. |
Ear height |
Lodging |
Stalk # |
Ear/plant |
|
bu/acre |
% |
lb/bu |
inches |
|
1000s/A |
|
|
|
Dekalb 15 25K |
228.0 |
20.0 |
60.4 |
49 |
2.6 |
24.3 |
1.7 |
|
Pioneer 15 25K |
218.9 |
21.8 |
58.1 |
53 |
1.1 |
24.5 |
1.4 |
|
Dekalb 30 25K |
235.7 |
20.6 |
60.4 |
47 |
2.3 |
24.0 |
1.6 |
|
Pioneer 30 25K |
229.9 |
22.2 |
58.4 |
51 |
1.0 |
25.9 |
1.3 |
|
Dekalb 30pr 25K |
237.4 |
19.9 |
60.4 |
49 |
2.5 |
24.3 |
1.7 |
|
Pioneer 30pr 25K |
227.2 |
21.6 |
58.4 |
54 |
1.4 |
25.5 |
1.5 |
|
Dekalb 15 30K |
254.7 |
20.2 |
60.5 |
51 |
3.4 |
30.1 |
1.4 |
|
Pioneer 15 30K |
235.4 |
21.3 |
58.3 |
54 |
1.1 |
29.9 |
1.3 |
|
Dekalb 30 30K |
243.5 |
20.5 |
60.2 |
50 |
2.6 |
29.1 |
1.4 |
|
Pioneer 30 30K |
240.6 |
21.3 |
58.4 |
54 |
1.0 |
29.8 |
1.2 |
|
Dekalb 30pr 30K |
245.2 |
20.1 |
60.4 |
49 |
3.0 |
29.6 |
1.3 |
|
Pioneer 30pr 30K |
240.2 |
21.7 |
58.5 |
56 |
1.5 |
29.5 |
1.3 |
|
Dekalb 15 35K |
263.0 |
20.3 |
60.5 |
53 |
4.1 |
33.6 |
1.2 |
|
Pioneer 15 35K |
247.4 |
21.7 |
58.1 |
56 |
1.4 |
34.3 |
1.1 |
|
Dekalb 30 35K |
255.0 |
21.2 |
60.3 |
50 |
2.8 |
32.0 |
1.3 |
|
Pioneer 30 35K |
245.1 |
21.8 |
58.2 |
54 |
1.3 |
33.9 |
1.1 |
|
Dekalb 30pr 35K |
249.7 |
20.2 |
60.4 |
50 |
4.1 |
33.0 |
1.2 |
|
Pioneer 30pr 35K |
242.9 |
21.5 |
58.5 |
55 |
1.1 |
33.9 |
1.2 |
|
LSD (0.05) |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
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