RESULTS OF AGRONOMIC AND WEED SCIENCE RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA

Transcription

1 RESULTS OF AGRONOMIC AND WEED SCIENCE RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA The Annual Report of the Investigations at and Administration of the Southern Agricultural Research Center, Huntley, Montana PROJECT TITLE: PROJECT LEADERS: PROJECT PERSONNEL: OBJECTIVES: METHODS: RESULTS and SUMMARY: Irrigated Hybrid Grain Corn Performance Trial near Huntley, Montana. (Exp ). Kenneth D. Kephart, Agronomist, SARC, Huntley Geraldine B. Opena, Research Associate, SARC, Huntley Tom A. Fischer, Research Specialist and Farm Foreman, SARC, Huntley To provide corn growers in south central Montana with a reliable, unbiased, upto-date source of information that will permit valid comparisons among improved corn hybrids for irrigated grain production. This information should help corn producers in south central Montana select hybrids best suited to this region of the state. For 2004, five sponsors submitted 24 corn hybrids for testing under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana (Table 1). Relative maturity ratings and other trait characteristics provided by the sponsors are presented in Table 2. The study was planted using a randomized complete block design with six replications. Test plots consisted of a 30-foot, 4-row plot with 30-inch row spacing. Each 30 foot row was planted with 69 seeds, equal to planting 40,075 seeds per acre or about 105 percent of the target population of 38,200 plants per acre. Planting depth was set 1½ inches deep. Plot stands were determined by counting the number of established plants along the two center rows at approximately the 4 to 5 leaf stage of crop development. Just prior to harvest, all plots were visually assessed for feeding damage caused by an unusually high number of migrating blackbird, finch and grackle flocks that passed through the area in September and October. All rows of each test plot were trimmed 36 inches and the center 2 rows of each plot were harvested using an experimental-plot combine. Test weight (pounds per bushel) and percent grain moisture content were obtained for each plot using a Dickey-john GAC 2100 grain analyzer. Recorded grain yields were adjusted to 15.5% grain moisture content, and are reported in bushels per acre based on a 56 pound standard bushel weight. Two and three year average yields are provided for entries previously tested in 2003 and 2002, respectively. Information pertaining to the specific cultural management of the study is listed at the bottom of Table 4. The frost-free period for the 2004 growing season at Huntley spanned from May 25 th to September 21 st, 7 days shorter than normal for this location (Table 3). The months of May, June, July and August were abnormally cool. Total accumulated heat units (1,806 ºF, GDD corn ) for the season were 141 ºF less, or about 7 percent below the level of heat units normally expected to accumulate during this 118 day interval. Soil moisture conditions were adequate at planting for corn germination and emergence in late April of Fairly uniform stands were established among the 24 hybrids by May 10 th, but all seedlings were frozen to the soil surface as the result of a sudden freeze during the night of May 11 th. Ambient air temperatures dropped to 19 ºF for at least 4 hours. Most plants appeared to have recovered from this damage when freezing damage was again

2 experienced on May 25 th. Final plant establishment varied from 79 to 91 percent, with only 3 entries establishing plants from more than 90 percent of the target population planted (Table 4). Silking dates in 2004 varied by only 5 days among the 24 entries (Table 4), but on average, silking dates were delayed by 7 days compared to silking dates observed among entries tested in Garst 8986YG1/RR, Monsanto DKC RR2 and Syngenta N27-M3 silked the earliest (July 28), while silk was not evident on Hyland HL B282, Kussmaul K-595 and Kussmaul SB-494 RR until August 2 during the 2004 season. Feeding damage from birds was more pronounced on entries possessing earlier relative maturity ratings. Adjusted corn grain yields averaged bushels per acre (Table 4), about 25 bushels per acre more than the trial harvested in Grain yield among entries in 2004 varied from bushels per acre for Syngenta N27-M3 to bushels per acre for Garst 8905 RR. Only two of the 24 entries, Monsanto DKC Conv and Syngenta N29-A2, produced mean yields statistically equal to that of the highest yielding hybrid, Syngenta N27-M3. Averaged across two years, Syngenta N29-A2 produced the highest yield of bu/ac. Four entries ( Hyland HL 2368, Kussmaul SB-492 RR, Syngenta N2555BT and Syngenta N27-M3) averaged 2-year yields equal with the highest yielding entry, Syngenta N29-A2. Averaged across three years of testing, Syngenta N2555BT produced the highest yield of bu/ac. The test weight of all hybrids tested in 2004 averaged 52.1 pounds per bushel, approximately six pounds lighter than the average test weight measured for corn hybrids tested at this location in Test weight among the 24 entries varied from 49.9 lb/bu for Monsanto DKC RR2/YGCB to 53.8 lb/bu for Garst 8911 RR. Grain moisture content at harvest (November 3 and 4, 2004) was quite high, varying from 19.6 percent for Garst 8911 RR to 24.6 percent for Garst 8905 RR and Monsanto DKC RR2. A random spot check of entries just prior to harvest revealed very few instances of kernel black layer development, likely a result of the delay in silking combined with the slower than normal heat unit accumulation that occurred during the grain fill period of the 2004 growing season. Although grain yields were much better than expected among the 24 hybrids tested in 2004, the light test weights, high moisture content at harvest and lack of substantial black layer development suggest most, if not all, entries had failed to reach physiological maturity before crop growth was terminated by fall freezing temperatures. FUTURE PLANS: With continued support from the seed corn industry, the irrigated hybrid corn evaluations will continue in 2005 at Southern Agricultural Research Center.

3 Table 1. Contact information for seed sources of 24 hybrid corn entries tested at the Southern Agricultural Research Center near Huntley, Montana during Hybrids Brand Tested Contact Garst 8986 YG1/RR Garst Seed Company 8922 YG th Street 8881 RR Slater IA RR PH: 888-GO-GARST 8905 RR Hyland HL 2288 Mr. Jim Olmsted HL R228 Hyland Seeds HL B264 2 Hyland Drive HL 2368 Blenheim, Ontario HL R234 Canada N0P 1A0 HL B282 PH: FX: EM: JOlmsted@Hylandseeds.com Kussmaul K-583 Mr. Paul Klinkhammer K-595 Kussmaul Seed Company SB-385 RR 9020 Highway 18 SB0492 RR Mt. Hope WI SB-494 RR PH: FX: EM: ksc@mhtc.net Monsanto DKC RR2 Dr. Doug Ryerson DKC RR2 Monsanto Company DKC Conv 408 Deer Drive DKC RR2/YGCB Great Falls, MT DKC RR2/YGCB PH: FX: EM: douglas.k.ryerson@monsanto.com Syngenta N2555Bt Mr. Terry Hobson N27-M3 Syngenta Seed Inc. N29-A Airport Road Ames IA PH: FX: EM: terry.hobson@syngenta.com

4 Table 2. Summary of trait information provided by sponsoring vendors for 24 corn hybrids submitted for testing under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana during Hybrids listed in alphabetical order by brand. 2/ 3/ 1/ 1/ Flex Prolific Relative Grain Stalk Root Ear Ear 4/ 5/ Brand & Hybrid Maturity Color Strength Strength Type Type GMO Unique Traits/Characteristics days Garst 8881-RR 95 Yellow 8 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Garst 8905-RR 87 Yellow 7 6 Y N Y Roundup Ready Garst 8911-RR 91 Yellow 8 7 N N Y Roundup Ready Garst 8922YG1 91 Yellow 7 7 Y N Y YieldGuard (Bt) Garst 8986YG1-RR 85 Yellow 7 6 MF N Y Roundup Ready, YieldGuard (Bt) Hyland HL Yellow 9 8 N Y N Hyland HL Yellow 8 9 N N N Hyland HL B Yellow 9 8 N Y Y Bt Hyland HL B Yellow 9 9 N N Y Bt Hyland HL R Yellow 9 8 N Y Y Roundup Ready Hyland HL R Yellow 8 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul K Yellow 9 9 Y N N Kussmaul K Yellow 8 9 Y N N Kussmaul SB-385 RR 85 Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB-492 RR 92 Yellow 9 9 N Y Y Roundup Ready, High Oil Kusssmaul SB 494 RR 94 Yellow 9 9 N Y Y Roundup Ready Monsanto DKC RR Y Roundup Ready 2 Monsanto DKC RR Y Roundup Ready 2 Monsanto DKC Conv N Monsanto DKC RR2/YGCB Y Roundup Ready 2, YieldGuard (Bt) Monsanto DKC RR2/YGCB Y Roundup Ready 2, YieldGuard (Bt) Syngenta N2555BT 90 Yellow 5 7 N Y Y Liberty Link, NK YieldGuard (Bt) Syngenta N27-M3 91 Yellow 6 5 Semi Y Y Liberty Link, NK YieldGuard (Bt) Syngenta N29-A2 92 Yellow 7 8 N Y Y Liberty Link, NK YieldGuard (Bt) 1/ Stalk and root strength rating are from 1 to 9 where 1=poor, 5=average and 9=excellent. 2/ Flex ear types change ear length in response to environmental conditions. 3/ Prolific ear types change ear number in response to environmental conditions. 4/ Genetically modified organism possessing transgenic traits registered for commercial production in the United States. 5/ Bt indicates European corn borer resistance from Bacillis thuringiensis. Roundup Ready indicates resistance to glyphosate herbicides. LibertyLink indicates resistance to glufosinate herbicide. Use of registered trademarks to describe characteristics does not imply endorsement or exclusion of commercial corn hybrids by Montana State University, the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and/or the Southern Agricultural Research Center.

5 Table 3. Summary of climatic data by months for the cropping year (September-August) compared to averages for the period of record from 1911 to 2003 at the Southern Agricultural Research Center near Huntley, Montana Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Year Precipitation (inches) Total Current Year ( ) Average ( ) Difference Mean Temperature (ºF) Average Current Year ( ) Average ( ) Difference Last Killing Frost in Spring 1/ First Killing Frost in the Fall 1/ Frost-free period Growing Degree Days (Base 50) 2/ Growing Degree Days (Base Corn) 2/ May 25 (27 ºF) Average ( )... May September 21 (28 ºF) Average ( )... September days Average ( ) days ,669 GDD (ºF) Average ( )... 1,871 GDD (ºF) ,806 GDD (ºF) Average ( )... 1,947 GDD (ºF) Maximum Summer Temperature 102 ºF on July 19, 2004 Minimum Winter Temperature -32 ºF on January 5, / In this summary, 32 ºF is considered a killing frost. Average last and first killing frost dates are calculated on a 50% probability of a minimum temperature occurring below a threshold temperature of 32.5 ºF based on observations from 1911 to / Growing degree days calculated from temperatures observed during the frost free period from May 25 through September 21 for 2004, and from the average maximum and minimum temperatures for the same 118 day interval from the period of record of 1911 to 2003.

6 Table 4. Agronomic performance of 24 corn hybrids grown under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana during (Exp ). Hybrids listed in alphabetical order by brand name. 1/ 2/ RM Grain Yield Test Grain Stand Plants Silking Date Bird Brand & Hybrid Rating Weight Moisture Count Established Julian Calendar Damage days bushels/acre lb/bu % plants/acre % 0-9 Garst 8881 RR , Aug Garst 8905 RR , Jul Garst 8911 RR , Jul Garst 8922YG , Aug Garst 8986YG1/RR , Jul Hyland HL , Jul Hyland HL * , Aug Hyland HL B , Jul Hyland HL B , Aug Hyland HL R , Jul Hyland HL R , Aug Kussmaul K , Jul Kussmaul K , Aug Kussmaul SB-385 RR , Jul Kussmaul SB-492 RR * , Jul Kussmaul SB-494 RR , Aug Monsanto DKC RR , Jul Monsanto DKC RR , Jul Monsanto DKC Conv * , Jul Monsanto DKC RR2/YGCB , Aug Monsanto DKC RR2/YGCB , Aug Syngenta N2555BT * 175.9** , Jul Syngenta N27-M ** 170.7* 171.0* , Jul Syngenta N29-A * 179.1** , Jul Average , Jul LSD (p=0.05) , CV% / Yields are based on a 56 pound standard bushel weight for corn and adjusted to 15.5 percent moisture content. 2/ Bird damage was visually estimated using a score from 0 to 9 where 0 indicates 50 percent of the ears suffered less than 10 percent feeding damage, 5 indicates 50 percent of the ears experienced at least 50 percent damage and 9 indicates 50 percent of the ears experienced at least 90 percent feeding damage. ** Indicates highest yielding hybrid within a column. * Indicates hybrids yielding equal to highest yielding hybrid within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05). Planted: April 27, 2004 Harvested: November 3-4, 2004 Fertility: , 531 lbs/a; , 100 lbs/a; , 48 lbs/a pre-plant incorporated, April 14, 2004 Herbicide: Roundup Ultra, 32 oz/a, May 4, 2004; Option, 1.25 oz/a; Distinct, 4 oz/a; MSO, 1.5 pt./a; AMS, 3 lbs/a, June 22, 2004 Previous crop: sugar beets Irrigation: profile flooded, July 7-8, 2004; profile flooded, July 23, 2004; profile flooded, August 11, 2004 Precipitation: 7.99 inches