The Seven Wonders of High Corn Yield

Transcription

1 The Seven Wonders of High Corn Yield Fred Below Crop Physiology Laboratory Department of Crop Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign FarmSmart Ag Conference, University of Guelph, January 18, 2014

2 Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Ranks those factors that each year can have a positive (and sometimes negative) impact on corn yield Gives each factor an average bushel per acre value

3 Crucial Prerequisites, but not Yield Wonders Drainage Pest/Weed Control Proper soil ph & adequate levels of P and K based on soil tests

4 Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank Factor Weather Value bu/acre 70+ Given key prerequisites

5 Excess Precipitation Delayed Planting in 2013

6 Exceptional Drought in 2012

7 Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank Factor Weather Nitrogen Value bu/acre Given key prerequisites

8 Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank Factor Weather Nitrogen Hybrid Value bu/acre Given key prerequisites

9 All Hybrids are Not Created Equal Rank Yield Rank Yield Rank Yield Rank Yield bu acre -1 bu acre -1 bu acre -1 bu acre LSD (0.10) = ,000 plants/acre with 240 lbs N at Champaign, IL in 2012

10 Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank Factor Weather Nitrogen Hybrid Previous Crop Value bu/acre Given key prerequisites

11 Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank Factor Weather Nitrogen Hybrid Previous Crop Plant Population Value bu/acre Given key prerequisites

12 How have corn yields increased? Grain yield (bu acre -1 ) U.S. plant density U.S. average grain yield Plant density (acre -1 ) Source USDA Year 16000

13 Grain Yield is a Product Function of Yield Components Yield = (plants/acre) x (kernels/plant) x (weight/kernel)

14 Some Examples of Yield Component Combinations for Different Yields 200 bushels = 32,000 plants/ac x 550 kernels/plant x 250 mg/kernel 250 bushels = 36,000 plants/ac x 600 kernels/plant x 255 mg/kernel 300 bushels? = 45,000 plants/ac x 565 kernels/plant x 260 mg/kernel Kernel weight expressed at 0% and yield at 15% moisture

15 Are Twin Rows a way to increase Plant Population? Champaign, 2009

16 Twin Rows are Warmer Lower canopy thermal images 30 Rows Twin Rows Champaign, IL August 20, 2011, 45,000 plants/acre

17 Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank Factor Weather Nitrogen Hybrid Previous Crop Plant Population Tillage Value bu/acre Given key prerequisites

18 Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank Factor Value bu/acre Weather 70+ Nitrogen 70 Hybrid 50 Previous Crop 25 Plant Population 20 Tillage 15 Growth Regulators 10 Given key prerequisites

19 Leaf Greening from Strobilurin Fungicides Leaves greener 50 days after VT application

20 Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank Factor Given key prerequisites Weather Nitrogen Hybrid Previous Crop Plant Population Tillage Growth Regulators TOTAL Value bu/acre bu

21 How to Get High Corn Yields? Optimize each of the seven wonders and their positive interactions Provide better prerequisites, season long weed control & balanced fertility/nutrition

22 Prerequisites for High Yields? Proper soil ph & adequate levels of P and K based on soil tests Fertility- Use application and fertilizer technologies to supply required crop nutrition

23 Nutrition Needed for 230 Bushel Corn Nutrient Required to Produce Removed with Grain Harvest Index lbs/acre % N P 2 O K 2 O S Zn (oz) B (oz) Average of 6 hybrids in Champaign and DeKalb IL in Agron. J. 105: (2013)

24 N Uptake & Partitioning for 230 Bushel Corn Nitrogen Uptake (lb N ac -1 ) Grain Tassel, Cob, Husk Leaves Stalk and Leaf Sheaths Leaf Blades GDD F Percent (%) of Total Nitrogen E V3 V6 V9 V14 V18 R1 R3 R5 R6 Growth Stage Average of 6 hybrids in Champaign and DeKalb IL in 2010 Agron. J. 105: (2013)

25 P Uptake & Partitioning for 230 Bushel Corn Phosphorus Uptake (lb P 2 O 5 ac -1 ) Grain Tassel, Cob, Husk Leaves Stalk and Leaf Sheaths Leaf Blades GDD F Percent (%) of Total Phosphorus E V3 V6 V9 V14 V18 R1 R3 R5 R6 Growth Stage Average of 6 hybrids in Champaign and DeKalb IL in 2010 Agron. J. 105: (2013)

26 Feed the Plant Not the Soil Better Fertilizer 250 lbs/acre MicroEssentials-SZ 35 lbs N, 100 lbs P 2 O 5, 25 lbs S, 2.5 lbs Zn Better Application Banded 4 to 6 inches deep directly under the crop row

27 Improved Growth with Spring-Banding Champaign, IL lbs/acre MicroEssentials = 35 N, 100 P 2 O 5, 25 S, and 2.5 Zn

28 No Corn Plant Left Behind Standard Technology Fall broadcast, 32K plants High Technology Banded fertility, 45K plants Champaign, IL 2011

29 Standard vs High Tech Package Fertility Nitrogen Genetics Population Fungicide None, or fall P or K based on soil test Balanced Crop Nutrition (N, P, S, & Zn) with premium fertilizer (MESZ) and/or banding 180 lbs pre-plant as UAN or urea Extra N (60+ lbs) as sidedress and weather protection (urease and/or nitrification) Refuge and/or Workhorse Hybrid Triple stack and/or Racehorse Hybrid 32,000 plants/ac vs 45,000 plants/ac No Fungicide Headline-Amp or R1

30 High Tech Package vs Traditional Ears from 1/1000 of an acre High Technology Package Standard Practice

31 Corn Yield Response to Management Year Standard High Tech bu acre * * * Average * Average of 2 trials in 2009, 2 trials in 2010, and 11 trials in 2011 *Significantly different at P 0.05.

32 Standard vs High Tech Package Fertility Nitrogen Genetics Population Fungicide None, or fall P or K based on soil test Balanced Crop Nutrition (N, P, S, & Zn) with premium fertilizer (MESZ) and/or banding 180 lbs pre-plant as UAN or urea Extra N (60 lbs) as sidedress and weather protection (urease and/or nitrification) Refuge and/or Workhorse Hybrid Triple stack and/or Racehorse Hybrid 32,000 plants/ac vs 45,000 plants/ac No Fungicide Headline-Amp or R1

33 Omission Plot Experimental Design FACTORS TREATMENT Fertility Nitrogen Genetics Population Fungicide HIGH TECH MESZ Base + sidedress Triple stack/ Racehorse 45,000 Strobilurin Remove Technology Add Technology Fertility Soil test Base + sidedress Triple/Racehorse 45,000 Strobilurin Nitrogen MESZ Base Triple/Racehorse 45,000 Strobilurin Genetics Population Fungicide MESZ MESZ MESZ Base + sidedress Base + sidedress Base + sidedress STANDARD Soil test Base Refuge/workhorse 45,000 Strobilurin Triple/Racehorse 32,000 Strobilurin Triple/Racehorse 45,000 none Refuge/ Workhorse 32,000 none Fertility MESZ Base Refuge/workhorse 32,000 none Nitrogen Soil test Base + Sidedress Refuge/workhorse 32,000 none Genetics Soil test Base Triple/Racehorse 32,000 none Population Soil test Base Refuge/workhorse 45,000 none Fungicide Soil test Base Refuge/workhorse 32,000 Strobilurin

34 Add One Enhanced Factor to Standard Management Standard System Add One Enhanced Factor Yield Standard Management 185 bu acre -1 +Fertility (extra N, P, S, Zn and/or banding) * +Nitrogen (plus sidedress/ loss protected) * +Genetics (triple stack/racehorse hybrid) * +Population (45,000 plants/acre) 178-7* +Fungicide (strobilurin at flowering) *Significantly different at P 0.05 Average of 2 trials in 2009, 2 trials in 2010, and 11 trials in 2011

35 Omit One Enhanced Factor from High Tech System High Tech System Omit One Enhanced Factor Yield High Tech all Five Factors 228 bu acre -1 -Fertility (fertility from soil test) * -Nitrogen (unprotected from loss) * -Genetics (-biotech insect protection) * -Population (only 32,000 plants/acre) 221-7* -Fungicide (no fungicide) * *Significantly different at P 0.05 Average of 2 trials in 2009, 2 trials in 2010, and 11 trials in 2011

36 Standard vs High-Tech Management Traditional High Tech Factor Yield Yield bu acre -1 None or All Fertility Nitrogen Genetics Population Fungicide Average of 2 trials in 2009, 2 trials in 2010, and 11 trials in 2011

37 Management Factor with Greatest Response Year Factor Standard High Tech bushels acre Genetics (rootworm trait) Fungicide Fertility

38 Extreme Drought in Illinois in 2012

39 Management Factor with Greatest Response Year Factor Standard High Tech bushels acre Genetics (rootworm trait) Fungicide Fertility Irrigation

40 Standard vs High Tech Package 2013 Fertility Nitrogen Population Fungicide None, or fall P or K based on soil test Balanced Crop Nutrition (N, P, S, & Zn) with premium fertilizer (MESZ) and/or banding 180 lbs pre-plant as UAN or urea Extra N (60+ lbs) as sidedress and weather protection (urease and/or nitrification) 32,000 plants/ac vs 45,000 plants/ac No Fungicide Headline-Amp or R1 Row Space 30 inch row spacing 20 inch row spacing

41 Add One Enhanced Factor to Standard Management Standard System Add One Enhanced Factor Yield Standard Management 196 bu acre -1 +Fertility (extra N, P, S, Zn and/or banding) * +Nitrogen (plus sidedress/ loss protected) Population (45,000 plants/acre) Fungicide (strobilurin at flowering) Row Spacing (20 inch rows ) *Significantly different from standard P 0.05, Average of 3 trials in 2013

42 Omit One Enhanced Factor from High Tech System High Tech System Omit One Enhanced Factor Yield High Tech all Five Factors 231 bu acre -1 -Fertility (fertility from soil test) 223-8* -Nitrogen (unprotected from loss) Population (only 32,000 plants/acre) * -Fungicide (no fungicide) Row Spacing (30 inch rows) * *Significantly different from high tech P 0.05, Average of 3 trials in 2013

43 Standard vs High-Tech Management Standard High Tech Factor Yield Yield bu acre -1 None or All Fertility * 223-8* Nitrogen Population * Fungicide Row Space * *Significantly different from standard or high tech P 0.05 Average of 3 trials in 2013

44 Conclusions For maximum yield a systems approach is needed that combines individual practices known to impact productivity High yield must be planned for from the beginning because the factor or factors which drive increased yield depends on that season s weather

45 Conclusions Increasing plant population may be the foundation for pushing higher corn yields, but higher populations must be managed with narrower row spacing, the proper hybrid, fed with the right balance of nutrients and protected from biotic and abiotic stresses

46 Acknowledgements Personnel Brad Bandy Tryston Beyrer Tom Boas Ryan Becker Ross Bender Fernando Cantao Paula Cler Keila Cunha Paulo Galvao Laura Gentry Claire Geiger Jason Haegele Mark Harrison Cole Hendrix Adam Henninger Jim Kleiss Brandon Litherland Jack Marshall Bianca Moura Ellie Raup Matías Ruffo Juliann Seebauer Marjorie Souza Logan Smith Martín Uribelarrea Mike Vincent Alison Vogel Kyle Vogelzang Wendy White

47 Crop Physiology Lab Sites & Farm Cooperators DeKalb DeKalb - Eric Lawler H.B. Babson Farms Rushville - Mike Dyche Jr. Dyche Farms Inc Rushville Champaign Champaign UI Research Farm Harrisburg - Scott Berry Berry Farms Harrisburg

48 Acknowledgements Financial Support AGCO Agricen Agrium AgroFresh BASF Calmer Corn Heads Crop Production Services Dawn Equipment Dow AgroSciences DuPont/Pioneer Fluid Fertilizer Foundation GrowMark Honeywell Helena Chemical Company Illinois Corn Marketing Board Illinois Soybean Association IPNI John Deere Koch Agronomic Service Monsanto Mosaic Nachurs Netafilm Orthman Rosen s Inc. Syngenta Stoller Enterprises Valent BioSciences WinField Solutions Wolf Trax Wyffels Hybrids

49 Very Special Thanks Peter Johnson FarmSmart Conference University of Guelph For more information: Crop Physiology Laboratory at the University of Illinois