Evaluating Corn Hybrid Plant Population Density for Yield and Phenotypic Responses. By Eric J Knoll

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1 Evaluating Corn Hybrid Plant Population Density for Yield and Phenotypic Responses By Eric J Knoll

2 Overview Personal history Project background and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Acknowledgements

3 Family Amy Sam (7) Anna (3) Max (5 months)

4 Background Childhood Warren, MN Youngest of six kids 15 nieces and nephews One great niece Currently Owatonna, MN Warren Owatonna

5 Interests Kids Hockey, baseball, and football Wood working Auto body work Gardening Hunting Camping

6 Education Bachelor of Science in Agronomy majoring in Crop and Weed Science (North Dakota State University ) Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Agronomy (Iowa State University )

7 Work Experience Knoll Family Farm, Warren, MN ( ) Hard red spring wheat, barley, and sunflower Pau Seeds, Olivia, MN ( ) Assistant Breeder AgReliant Genetics LLC, Kenyon, MN (2002 Present) Nursery Manager ( ) Assistant Breeder ( ) Assistant Station Manager (2010 Present)

8 Reasons for Choosing this Project Breeding program Company plant population discussion Select germplasm that respond to higher plant populations Develop stable products Optimize corn yields Minimize farming costs Identify agronomic responses to various populations

9 Why are Plant Populations Important? Maximize yields Minimize negative agronomic affects Reduce seed costs Maximize profits

10 Introduction Hybrid corn (Zea mays L.) Plant population refers to number of plants per acre (PPA) Over time increasing plant populations has been one way of increasing corn yields With increased populations what are affects other than yield

11 Study Objectives To determine a general yield responses of corn hybrids to different corn plant population densities. To determine a general phenotypic responses of corn hybrids to different plant population densities.

12 Experimental Design These field trials were conducted in 2009 Three locations with three replications per location Randomized complete block Main plot (plant population) Subplot (specific hybrids) Five different plant population (20, 26, 32, 38, and 44 thousand plants per acre) Eight hybrids ranging in relative maturity from 90 to 101 days (all hybrids contained Monsanto s Yield Guard VT3 technology)

13 Field Layout Kenyon Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Column 8 PPA Rep Range 15 Producers 5734 W7289VT3 DKC42-91 LG2426 W7309VT3 DKC50-44 LG2411 Producers Range 14 LG2426 Producers 5734 Producers 5624 W7309VT3 DKC50-44 W7289VT3 DKC42-91 LG Range 13 LG2411 Producers 5734 W7289VT3 DKC50-44 Producers 5624 DKC42-91 LG2426 W7309VT Range 12 Producers 5734 W7289VT3 LG2411 Producers 5624 DKC42-91 W7309VT3 DKC50-44 LG Range 11 LG2411 LG2426 DKC50-44 W7309VT3 W7289VT3 Producers 5734 Producers 5624 DKC Range 10 LG2411 W7289VT3 DKC42-91 DKC50-44 W7309VT3 Producers 5734 Producers 5624 LG Range 9 Producers 5734 W7289VT3 DKC50-44 LG2426 Producers 5624 LG2411 DKC42-91 W7309VT3 26 Range 8 W7309VT3 DKC42-91 Producers 5624 W7289VT3 DKC50-44 LG2426 Producers 5734 LG Range 7 DKC42-91 Producers 5624 W7309VT3 LG2426 DKC50-44 LG2411 W7289VT3 Producers Range 6 W7309VT3 LG2411 LG2426 Producers 5624 W7289VT3 DKC42-91 DKC50-44 Producers Range 5 Producers 5734 W7309VT3 DKC42-91 LG2426 DKC50-44 W7289VT3 Producers 5624 LG Range 4 W7289VT3 Producers 5624 LG2411 Producers 5734 DKC50-44 W7309VT3 LG2426 DKC Range 3 LG2411 Producers 5734 Producers 5624 DKC50-44 LG2426 DKC42-91 W7289VT3 W7309VT Range 2 Producers 5624 W7289VT3 DKC50-44 Producers 5734 LG2426 W7309VT3 DKC42-91 LG Range 1 LG2426 W7289VT3 LG2411 Producers 5734 W7309VT3 Producers 5624 DKC50-44 DKC Ranges go down the field Columns go across the field Three Replications per location Plants per acre (PPA) is listed on the right

14 Locations

15 Locations Kenyon, MN Maxfield-Klinger association Uniform Tiled High yield potential Corn hybrids from 90 to 103 day relative maturity

16 Locations Farmington, MN Ostrander loam Sandier Slightly sloped Well drained soil Can show signs of drought stress Moderate yield potential Corn hybrids from 85 to 101 day relative maturity

17 Locations Eyota, MN Port Byran Level Uniform Well drained High yield potential Corn hybrids from 90 to 105 day relative maturity

18 Hybrids Eight different hybrids LG2411, LG2426, Producers 5624, Producers 5734, W7289VT3, W7309VT3, DKC42-91, DKC50-44 These hybrids had a wide variety of genetic backgrounds Relative maturities ranging from days

19 Planting An Almaco Seed Pro planter was use to plant the plots

20 Over Planting Almaco hand planters were used to over plant higher populations (left) Plants prior to thinning (right)

21 Thinning Plots were thinned to the correct population during the V4 V6 stage

22 Notes Taken Plant and ear height Stalk diameter Stalk and root lodging Kernel weight Ear diameter and length Moisture Test Weight Yield

23 Plant and Ear Heights Plant height was measured from the ground to the base of the tassel Ear height was measured from the ground to the highest ear node

24 Stalk Diameter Stalks were measured using a digital caliper Measurements were taken just below the top ear Stalk width was measured at the narrower part of the stalk

25 Ear Measurements A ruler was used to measure ear length (left) and ear diameter (right)

26 Kernel weights The ears were shelled after ear measurements were taken Three hundred kernels were counted and weighed Each weight was divided by three to get a one hundred kernel weight Shelled weights were added back into over all plot weight

27 Plant Standability At all locations root and stalk lodged plants were counted prior to harvest Root lodging at the Farmington location (left) Stalk lodging at the Kenyon location (right)

28 Harvest New Holland TR88 Twin Plot research combine was used to harvest the plots for yield, moisture, and test weight

29 Data Analysis Student T test at the 95% confidence interval Least significant differences (LSD) were used to identify differences between entries Statistical programs SAS JMP

30 Ear Length and Diameter LSD 0.9 cm LSD 0.2 cm As plant populations decreased Generally ear size increased Producers 5624 had the smallest ear size reduction

31 Kernel Weights LSD 1.4 g As plant populations decreased in increments of six thousand plants per acre, there was a two to three gram reduction in kernel weight Twenty thousand plants per acre had the highest kernel weights Forty four thousand plants per acre had the lowest kernel weights Producers 5624 had the lowest kernel weight

32 Plant Height Plant height was not affected by different plant populations LG2411, W7289, and W7309 are the tallest hybrids with an average height greater than 241 cm Producers 5734 was the shortest hybrid with an average plant height of 221 cm

33 Ear Height The 44 thousand plant population had the highest ear height of 109 cm Seven cm higher than 20 thousand plants per acre which had an average of 102 cm W7309 had the highest ear height at 111 cm DKC42-91 had the lowest average ear height of 95 cm LSD 3.5 cm

34 Stalk Diameter In general as populations increased stalk diameters decreased W7309 and W7289 had the largest increase in stalk diameter as populations were reduced. Producers 5624 had the lowest increase in stalk diameter with reduced populations LSD 0.8 mm

35 Stalk and Root Lodging At Kenyon, 38 thousand PPA had the highest amount of stalk lodging while 26 thousand PPA had the least amount In general as plant populations increased so did the root lodging percentage In both cases the lowest plant populations had the smallest amount of stalk and root lodging

36 Moisture LSD 4.0 % DKC42-91 and DKC50-44 had an increase in moisture by 2% from 20 to 44 thousand PPA W7309 had a decrease in moisture by 1.6% from 20 to 44 thousand PPA

37 Yield In general, yields increased until 32 thousand PPA, but had no further yield increase as PPA increased Similar results to other studies LSD 9.4 bu/ac

38 Yield Grain yield potential (%) Plant population (thousands/a) Response of corn yield potential to plant population, averaged over 34 comparisons from 2005 to 2008 at Lamberton and Waseca, MN. Coulter. 2009

39 Yield Producers 5734 was the only hybrid that showed a decrease in yield among 44 thousand PPA compared to 32 and 38 thousand PPA The lowest yielding population for every hybrid was 20 thousand PPA LSD 19.6 bu/ac

40 Conclusion In general, yields increased until 32 thousand plants per acre; after that there appeared to be no yield increase with increasing plant populations. Increasing plant populations also decreased stalk diameter, ear length, ear diameter, and kernel weight. Plant populations did not affect plant height and test weight with limited affects on ear height and moisture. Specific hybrids respond differently in yield and phenotypic response under various growing conditions, locations, and plant populations. Farmers should continue to evaluate different hybrids at various plant populations to find ones that are going to work best.

41 Acknowledgements POS Committee Dr. Roger W. Elmore Dr. Kenneth Moore Dr. Tom Loynachan Family Amy (wife) Sam, Anna, and Max (kids)

42 Acknowledgements AgReliant Genetics LLC Christina Morland Jerry Courson Helmer Bauer Darryld Oistad Linda Cordes Gonzalo Andrade Jacob Gavelinger Andres Gordillo

43 Questions?

44 References Asgrow and Dekalb Seed Source Guide [Online]. Available at DKC4291.pdf. (Verified 8 Aug. 2010). Asgrow and Dekalb Seed Source Guide [Online]. Available at DKC5044.pdf. (Verified 8 Aug. 2010). Coulter, J Optimum Plant Populations for Corn in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Extension. [Online] Available at (Verified 8 Aug. 2010). Coulter, J., Think Carefully About Corn Plant Population to Maximize Profits. University of Minnesota Extension. [Online] Available at (Verified 8 Aug. 2010).

45 References LG Seeds Product Sheet [Online]. Available at (Verified 8 Aug. 2010). LG Seeds Product Sheet [Online]. Available at (Verified 8 Aug. 2010). Producers Hybrids Corn Profile Sheet [Online]. Available at (Verified 8 Aug. 2010). Producers Hybrids Corn Profile Sheet [Online]. Available at (Verified 8 Aug. 2010).

46 References Wensman Seed Product Sheet [Online]. Available at (Verified 8 Aug. 2010). Wensman Seed Product Sheet [Online]. Available at (Verified 8 Aug. 2010).