Hybrid selection Crop rotation Planting date Stand establishment Seeding rate Row spacing

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1 Planting Agronomics and Crop Rotations for High-Yield Corn Barriers to Bushels Meeting Fergus Falls, MN March 8, 2011 Jeff Coulter - Extension Corn Agronomist coult077@umn.edu

2 Hybrid selection Crop rotation Planting date Stand establishment Seeding rate Row spacing Planting Agronomics

3 Yield differences among hybrids are huge Rothsay, MN (2006 to 2010) 70 to 125 hybrids/year of day RM

4 Hybrids longer than 87-day RM have yielded more Rothsay, MN (2006 to 2010) 70 to 125 hybrids/year of day RM

5 Hybrids longer than 85-day RM have been wetter Rothsay, MN (2006 to 2010) 70 to 125 hybrids/year of day RM

6 Crop Rotation

7 Benefits of Alfalfa in Crop Rotations Supplies nitrogen About 100% of the N for 1 st year corn About 50% of the N for 2 nd year corn Can boost corn yield Disrupts pest cycles (corn rootworm & weeds) Improves soil structure & tilth Reduces soil organic matter losses Reduces soil erosion

8 Data Reported by Growers in West-Central MN from 2007 to 2009 Data from FINBIN

9 1) Crop rotation boosted yield (7 to 19% at high N rate). 2) Crop rotation reduced nitrogen needs. Lancaster, WI ( ) Stanger et al. (Agronomy Journal, 2008)

10 Alfalfa reduces N fertilizer requirement for 2 years Slide from Michael Russelle (USDA-ARS) Non-N rotation effects N credit (lb N/ac) 1 st yr after soybean 53 2 nd yr after soybean 5 1 st yr after alfalfa nd yr after alfalfa 34 N Credit = MRTN (continuous corn) MRTN (rotated corn) Mallarino& Pecinovsky(2006)

11 Minnesota N Fertilizer Guidelines (Corn: $6.00/bu; N fertilizer: $0.45/lb N) Corn following corn: 146 to 162 lb N/acre Corn following soybean: 107 to 127 lb N/acre N credit for 1 st year corn after alfalfa: 150 lb N/acre for 4 plants/ft lb N/acre for 2 to 3 plants/ft 2 40 lb N/acre for 1 plant/ft 2 Randall et al. (Univ. of MN, 2008) Online N Rate Calculator (Iowa State Univ., 2011)

12 How does alfalfa provide an N credit to corn? Recovers excess soil nitrate-n Fixes atmospheric N (100 to 500 lb/acre/year) Maintains high N concentration (>2% N in roots and residue) Adds N to soil organic matter pool (50 to 150 lb N/acre/year) Harvest losses Stand losses Thin root turnover Root exudation Slide from Michael Russelle (USDA-ARS)

13 Corn Planting Date Trial Morris, MN McIntoshsilt loam Corn following corn 6 triple stack hybrids (93-to 98-day) 35,000 seeds/acre 6 planting dates: April 20 to June 7

14 2010 Planting Date Trial -Morris, MN Photo on June 14 April 20 May 19

15 Planting dates from April 20 to May 10 had similar crop progress at Morris, MN in 2010

16 1) No clear advantage to the longer-season hybrids. 2) Planting between April 20 and May 19 maximized yield. Morris, MN -2010

17 1) Harvest moisture did not differ much with hybrid maturity until planting was delayed beyond May 19. 2) When planting was delayed from April 20 to May 19, harvest moisture was 2% wetter. Morris, MN Harvested Oct. 20

18 Planting from April 21 to May 6 maximized yield. Lamberton, MN ( ) Data from Bruce Potter & Steve Quiring

19 Planting Depth: 0.75 vs. 2

20 Shallow planting = poor nodal root development

21 2 ½ Leaf Stages Behind

22 Plant that was 2 ½ leaf stages behind is late to silk

23 Lamberton, MN (32,000 plants/acre) Ford and Hicks, 1992 (Journal of Production Agriculture)

24 2 locations in Ontario & 2002 (27,000 plants/acre) Liu et al., 2004 (Agronomy Journal)

25 Uniform Plant Spacing

26 Uneven Plant Spacing

27 Uneven Spacing Study -2 locations in Ontario 2000 & 2001 (27,000 plants/acre) Liu et al., 2004 (Agronomy Journal)

28 Seed Costs Reported by Southeast MNCorn Growers Data from FINBIN

29 MN Planting Progress DuringLast Decade 22-May 17-May Date of 50% Planted 12-May 7-May 2-May Data from USDA-NASS 27-Apr 22-Apr Year

30 Planting Date x Population Study following corn McIntosh silt loam soil 95-day RM (Pioneer 38P43) 3 planting dates: April 20, May 4, and May 17 Each planting date at 6 plant populations

31 Key findings: 1) Yield was maximized at just over 33,000 plants/ac 2) No difference between planting dates 3) Similar findings from 6 site-years in southern MN Morris, MN -2010

32 Optimum Seeding Rates at Morris, MN in 2010 (averaged over 3 planting dates)

33 2010 Hybrid Maturity x Population Study following corn McIntosh silt loam soil 3 hybrids: 91-day RM (Pioneer P9176XR) 94-day RM (Pioneer P9494XR) 99-day RM (Pioneer P9990XR) Planted on April 20 Each hybrid at 6 plant populations

34 Key findings: 1) On average, yield maximized at 35,100 plants/acre. 2) Response to population was similar for all hybrids. 3) Yield averaged 7 and 15 bu/ac higher with 94-and 99-day hybrids compared to the 91-day hybrid. Morris, MN -2010

35 Optimum Seeding Rates at Morris, MN in 2010 (averaged over 3 hybrids)

36 Hybrid x Population Study Hybrids in 2009 Pioneer 39N96 (89-day) Pioneer P9494XR (94-day) Hybrids in 2010 Pioneer P8581R (85-day) Pioneer 39N98 (89-day) 6 seeding rates (20,500 to 45,500 seeds/acre) Plot size: 8 rows x 700 feet Research by Doug Holen& Jon Nelson

37 Data from Doug Holen& Jon Nelson Ashby, MN -2009

38 Data from Doug Holen& Jon Nelson Ashby, MN -2010

39 Optimum Seeding Rates at Ashby, MN in 2010

40 Severe Stalk Lodging With a High Plant Population

41 Narrow rows may reduce plant-to-plant competition, allowing increased yield with higher populations in some environments. 44,000 plants/acre 30-inch rows (4.8 between plants) 44,000 plants/acre 22-inch rows (6.5 between plants)

42 Row Width x Hybrid x Population Study Crookston, following wheat; planted April 20 2 row widths (22-inch vs. 30-inch) 3 hybrids: i) 80-day RM (Pioneer 39V07) ii) 85-day RM (Pioneer P8581R) iii) 89-day RM (Pioneer 39N99) Each hybrid x row width at 6 plant populations

43 Key findings: 1) No advantage to the longer-season hybrids 2) Optimum final stand similar for all hybrids Crookston, 2010 (avg. of 2 row widths)

44 Key findings: 1) Advantage to 22 rows at > 33,000 plants/ac 2) Optimum final stand was higher for 22 rows Crookston, 2010 (avg. of 3 hybrids) + 8% + 12%

45 Optimum Seeding Rates at Crookston, MN in 2010 (averaged over 3 hybrids)

46 Key findings: 1) Yield was maximized at 33,000 plants/acre. 2) No difference between row widths. 3) These results differ from those in Crookston, 2009 (80-day hybrid)

47 Row Width x Hybrid x Population Study Lamberton& Waseca ( ) following corn 2 row widths (20-inch vs. 30-inch) 3 hybrids: i) 95-day RM (Pioneer 38P43) ii) 101-day RM (Pioneer 37N68) iii) 105-day RM (Pioneer 35F44) Each hybrid x row width at 6 plant populations

48 1) No yield difference between row widths. 2) Response to plant population similar for both row widths. 3) On average, yield maximized at 34,300 plants/ac or higher.

49 1) Yield was 7 and 14% higher with the 101-and 105-day hybrids compared to the 95-day hybrid. 2) Response to plant population similar for all hybrids. 3) On average, yield maximized at 34,300 plants/ac or higher.

50 Lamberton& Waseca, MN ( ) 2010) (averaged over 3 hybrids & 2 row widths)

51 Optimum SeedingRate Generally 34,000-36,000 seeds/ac, but can be higher. Does not differ much with planting date. Can sometimes be higher in narrow rows or with short-season fixed-ear hybrids. Is lower in dry environments.

52 Estimated Average Yield Increase forvarious Factors 57% = hybrid selection (best vs. worst) 13% = uniform emergence & growth vs. not 13% = crop rotation vs. continuous corn 8% = planting in late April vs. mid-may 6% = day vs day relative maturity 3% = final stand of 36,000 vs. 30,000 plants/acre 2% = 22-inch vs. 30-inch rows 2% = uniform within-row plant spacing vs. not

53 Thanks!