Quest for 300 Bushel Corn - PDF Free Download

Quest for 300 Bushel Corn 9 billion people by 2050 requires a doubling of grain production including corn 300 bu corn produced each year in the U.S. National Corn Growers Contest

Quest for 300 Bushel Corn Intelligent Intensification with the Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World What are the factors that have the biggest impact on corn yield each year?

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

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

Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Factor Value bu/acre Weather 70+ Nitrogen 70 Hybrid 50 Previous Crop 25 Plant Population 20 Tillage 15 Growth Regulators 10 Given key prerequisites

220 Weather and Nitrogen Grain yield (bu acre -1 ) 200 180 160 140 120 2008 2009 100 Same site DeKalb, IL 0 50 100 150 200 Fertilizer N rate (lb acre -1 )

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

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

Plant Competition Can Decrease Yield Grain yield (bu acre -1 ) 245 230 215 200 185 170 28 32 38 44 50 Champaign, IL 2009 Plant population (x10 3 acre -1 )

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

Leaf Greening from Strobliurin Fungicides Leaves greener 50 days after VT application

Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Factor Given key prerequisites Weather Nitrogen Hybrid Previous Crop Plant Population Tillage Growth Regulators TOTAL Value bu/acre 70+ 70 50 25 20 15 10 260 bu

Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Factor Weather Nitrogen Hybrid Given key prerequisites Previous Crop Plant Population Tillage Growth Regulators TOTAL = Value bu/acre % 70+ 27 70 26 50 19 25 10 20 8 15 6 10 4 260bu 100%

How to Get 300 Bushels? Better prerequisites, season long weed/pest control & balanced fertility/nutrition Optimize each of the seven wonders and their positive interactions

Prerequisites for 300 Bushels? Proper soil ph & adequate levels of P and K based on soil tests Fertility- Use application and fertilizer technologies to supply required crop nutrition (Sulfur & Zn?)

Nutrition Needed for 230 Bushel Corn Nutrient Required to Produce Removed with Grain Harvest Index lbs/acre % N 250 145 58 P 2 O 5 102 80 79 K 2 O 180 58 32 S 24 14 59 Zn (oz) 7.0 4.3 62 B (oz) 1.2 0.3 23 Average of 6 hybrids in Champaign and DeKalb IL in 2010.

Seasonal Uptake & Partitioning of Nitrogen Nitrogen Uptake (lb N ac -1 ) 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 0 Grain Tassel, Cob, Husk Leaves Stalk and Leaf Sheaths Leaf Blades 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 GDD F 100 75 50 25 0 Percent (%) of Total Nitrogen E V3 V6 V9 V14 V18 R1 R3 R5 R6 Growth Stage 6 hybrids representing all commercial bt rootworm traits grown in Champaign and DeKalb, IL in 2010 with yields of 220-240 bu/acre

Seasonal Uptake & Partitioning Phosphorus 6 hybrids representing all commercial bt rootworm traits grown in Champaign and DeKalb, IL in 2010 with yields of 220-240 bu/acre Phosphorus Uptake (lb P ac -1 ) 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Grain Tassel, Cob, Husk Leaves Stalk and Leaf Sheaths Leaf Blades 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 GDD F 100 75 50 25 0 Percent (%) of Total Phosphorus E V3 V6 V9 V14 V18 R1 R3 R5 R6 Growth Stage

Seasonal Uptake & Partitioning of Zinc Zinc Uptake (oz Zn ac -1 ) 7.2 6.4 5.6 4.8 4.0 3.2 2.4 1.6 0.8 Grain Tassel, Cob, Husk Leaves Stalk and Leaf Sheaths Leaf Blades 100 75 50 25 Percent (%) of Total Zinc 0.0 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 GDD F 0 E V3 V6 V9 V14 V18 R1 R3 R5 R6 Growth Stage 6 hybrids representing all commercial bt rootworm traits grown in Champaign and DeKalb, IL in 2010 with yields of 220-240 bu/acre

How to Get 300 Bushels? Better prerequisites along with packages of optimized yield wonders Is the value of combined factors greater than their individual impact?

Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Factor Weather Nitrogen Hybrid Previous Crop Plant Population Tillage Growth Regulators Total Improved Fertility Prerequisites Value bu/acre 70+ 70 50 25 20 15 10 260 bu

Standard vs. High Tech Package 2009-10 Fertility Nitrogen No P or K based on soil test 100 lbs P 2 O 5 as MESZ (N, P, S, & Zn) 180 lbs pre-plant as UAN 100 lbs extra N sidedress as Super-U Genetics RR Refuge Hybrid (DKC 61-22) Triple stack Hybrid (DKC 61-19) Both with soil insecticide at planting Population 32,000 plants/ac vs 45,000 plants/ac Fungicide No Fungicide Both in 30 inch rows and twin rows in 2010 Headline or Quilt-Xcel (@ R1)

High-Yield Omissions Study, 2009-2010 Ears from 1/1000 of an acre High Technology Package Standard Practice

Add Technology Remove Technology Omission Plot Experimental Design FACTORS TREATMENT Fertility Nitrogen Genetics Population Fungicide HIGH TECH MESZ Base + Slow release Triple stack 45,000 Strobilurin Fertility No P & K Base + Slow release Triple stack 45,000 Strobilurin Nitrogen MESZ Base Triple stack 45,000 Strobilurin Genetics MESZ Base + Slow release Refuge 45,000 Strobilurin Population MESZ Base + Slow release Triple stack 32,000 Strobilurin Fungicide MESZ Base + Slow release Triple stack 45,000 none STANDARD No P & K Base Refuge 32,000 none Fertility MESZ Base Refuge 32,000 none Nitrogen No P & K Base + Slow release Refuge 32,000 none Genetics No P & K Base Triple stack 32,000 none Population No P & K Base Refuge 45,000 none Fungicide No P & K Base Refuge 32,000 Strobilurin

Summary of Standard vs High-Tech Standard High Tech Factor Yield D Yield D bu acre -1 None or All 193 245 Fertility 197 + 4 236-9 Nitrogen 198 + 5 232-13 Genetics 202 + 9 225-20 Population 187-6 238-7 Fungicide 198 + 5 218-27 LSD (p<0.10) = 6 Data from Champaign and Dixon Springs in 2009 & 2010

Standard vs High Tech Package - 2011 Fertility Nitrogen Genetics No or fall P or K based on soil test 100 lbs P 2 O 5 as MESZ (N, P, S, & Zn) Banded 4-6 directly under row at planting 180 lbs pre-plant as urea 180 lbs pre-plant SuperU + 60 lbs sidedress urea with Agrotain Low Management Yield Potential High Management Yield Potential Both triple-stack with soil insecticide at planting Population 32,000 plants/ac vs 45,000 plants/ac Both final stand in 30 inch and twin rows Fungicide No Fungicide Headline-Amp or Quilt-Xcel @ R1

Omission Plots 2011 12 plots at 4 sites with Banded fertility at planting Different MYP hybrids Twin rows vs 30 inch Different fungicides Weather Different planting dates Different growing conditions Heat, Drought, Wind Rushville Springfield Champaign Harrisburg

Improved Growth with Spring-Banded MESZ Champaign, IL 2011

No Corn Plant Left Behind Standard Technology High Technology Champaign, IL 2011

Challenging weather at locations - 2011 Daily temperature ( o F) Champaign, IL 110 100 Planting V6 VT/R1 R6 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 Julian day Harrisburg, IL 110 100 Planting V6 VT/R1 R6 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 2.8 2.4 2.0 1.6 1.2 0.8 0.4 0.0 Daily precipitation (inches)

Omission Plot Experiments in Illinois is 2011 Number Location Omission plot name 1 Rushville DeKalb hybrid comparison 2 Champaign DeKalb hybrid comparison 3 Champaign Pioneer omission plot 4 Champaign Twin row omission plot 5 Springfield DeKalb hybrid comparison 6 Champaign Non-irrigated omission plot 7 Champaign 30-inch omission plot 8 Harrisburg 30-inch omission plot 9 Champaign Syngenta omission plot 10 Champaign Irrigated omission plot 11 Champaign DeKalb hybrid comparison 12 Harrisburg Twin row omission plot

Yield Response from High-Tech Management in 2011 Management response (bu acre -1 ) 60 50 40 30 Avg. = 26 bu acre -1 20 10 0-10 -20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Omission Plot Experiment (sorted)

Standard vs High-Tech 2011 Average of all 12 Trials Standard High Tech Factor Yield Δ Yield Δ ------------ bushels acre -1 ------------ None or all 169 195 Fertility 183 +14 178-17 Nitrogen 177 +8 184-11 Genetics 173 +4 186-9 Population 159-10 194-1 Fungicide 172 +3 184-8 LSD (p<0.10) = 6 Average of 12 trials in Illinois In 2011

No Corn Plant Left Behind Standard Technology High Technology Champaign, IL 2011

How do You Select the Right Hybrid? Hybrid RM Hybrid RM Garst 85V88-3000GT 107 N72A-3111 112 Garst 84S08-4011 109 DKC 63-84 VT3 113 DKC 61-21 SSTX 111 FS 63MV4 113 FS 61BV3 111 P1395XR 113 P1184XR 111 P33Z74 113 N68A-3000GT 111 H-9138 3000GT 113 N68B-3111 111 Croplan 6914AS3000/GT 114 N68B-3000GT 111 Croplan 6960VT3/P 114 Croplan 6160VT3/P 112 DKC 64-69 VT3P 114 DKC 62-63 VT3P 112 N74R-3000GT 114 DKC 62-97 VT3P 112 Croplan 7505VT3 115 P1236XR 112 DKC 65-63 VT3 115

2011 Management Yield Potential Trials Twenty-four hybrids from five major seed sources: SmartStax, Herculex XTRA, YieldGard VT3, or Agrisure trait packages. Two locations: Champaign and Harrisburg 107-115 relative maturity hybrids Two plant densities: 32,000 acre -1 & 45,000 acre -1 Three N rates: 0 lb N: Check plot yield (low N tolerance) 60 lb N: Initial fertilizer N response 240 lb N: Maximum yield Champaign Harrisburg

How do You Select the Right Hybrid? Rank Grain Yield Rank Grain Yield bu acre -1 bu acre -1 1 199.3 13 186.7 2 199.0 14 186.3 3 198.7 15 185.6 4 197.9 16 184.6 5 197.6 17 181.7 6 196.9 18 173.1 7 196.4 19 171.8 8 196.2 20 168.6 9 195.9 21 168.2 10 192.3 22 168.1 11 191.4 23 165.0 12 189.0 24 164.6 LSD (0.10) = 15.8 32,000 plants/acre with 240 lbs N, average of two sites in Illinois in 2011

Hybrid Tolerance to High Plant Population Plant density response (bu acre -1 ) 15 10 5 0-5 -10-15 -20-25 -30 Trial avg. = - 4.8 bu acre -1 240 lbs N/acre, average of two sites in Illinois in 2011

Hybrid Tolerance to High Plant Population Plant density response (bu acre -1 ) 15 10 5 0-5 -10-15 -20-25 -30 Syngenta hybrids Trial avg. = - 4.8 bu acre -1 240 lbs N/acre, average of two sites in Illinois in 2011

Hybrid Tolerance to High Plant Population Plant density response (bu acre -1 ) 15 10 5 0-5 -10-15 -20-25 -30 Pioneer hybrids Trial avg. = - 4.8 bu acre -1 240 lbs N/acre, average of two sites in Illinois in 2011

Hybrid Tolerance to High Plant Population Plant density response (bu acre -1 ) 15 10 5 0-5 -10-15 -20-25 -30 DEKALB hybrids Trial avg. = - 4.8 bu acre -1 240 lbs N/acre, average of two sites in Illinois in 2011

Hybrid Tolerance to High Plant Population Plant density response (bu acre -1 ) 15 10 5 0-5 -10-15 -20-25 -30 Croplan Genetics and FS hybrids Trial avg. = - 4.3 bu acre -1 240 lbs N/acre, average of two sites in Illinois in 2011

Identifying Hybrids Tolerant of Lower N Levels Initial N response (bu acre -1 ) 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 Check plot yield (bu acre -1 ) Average of two sites in Illinois in 2011

Hybrids that can Tolerate N loss (ie Workhorse) Hybrid RM Hybrid RM Garst 85V88-3000GT 107 N72A-3111 112 Garst 84S08-4011 109 DKC 63-84 VT3 113 DKC 61-21 SSTX 111 FS 63MV4 113 FS 61BV3 111 P1395XR 113 P1184XR 111 P33Z74 113 N68A-3000GT 111 H-9138 3000GT 113 N68B-3111 111 Croplan 6914AS3000/GT 114 N68B-3000GT 111 Croplan 6960VT3/P 114 Croplan 6160VT3/P 112 DKC 64-69 VT3P 114 DKC 62-63 VT3P 112 N74R-3000GT 114 DKC 62-97 VT3P 112 Croplan 7505VT3 115 P1236XR 112 DKC 65-63 VT3 115

Identifying Hybrids Suitable for High Management Response to density (bu acre -1 ) 20 183 bu acre -1 194 bu acre -1 10 0-10 -20-30 171 bu acre -1 186 bu acre -1 80 90 100 110 120 Average of two sites in Illinois in 2011 Maximum response to N (bu acre -1 )

Hybrids Suitable for High-Tech Management Hybrid RM Hybrid RM Garst 85V88-3000GT 107 N72A-3111 112 Garst 84S08-4011 109 DKC 63-84 VT3 113 DKC 61-21 SSTX 111 FS 63MV4 113 FS 61BV3 111 P1395XR 113 P1184XR 111 P33Z74 113 N68A-3000GT 111 H-9138 3000GT 113 N68B-3111 111 Croplan 6914AS3000/GT 114 N68B-3000GT 111 Croplan 6960VT3/P 114 Croplan 6160VT3/P 112 DKC 64-69 VT3P 114 DKC 62-63 VT3P 112 N74R-3000GT 114 DKC 62-97 VT3P 112 Croplan 7505VT3 115 P1236XR 112 DKC 65-63 VT3 115

Conclusions Yield gains are possible from a systems approach to crop management that combines individual practices known to impact yield The factor or factors which drive increased yield in the high-tech package depend on the weather

Conclusions Increasing plant population may be the foundation for pushing higher yields, but it must be managed and protected Selecting the right hybrid for the standard or the high-tech package is crucial, especially in a stressful environment

Personnel Brad Bandy Tom Boas Ryan Becker Ross Bender Fernando Cantao Paulo Galvao Laura Gentry Jason Haegele Mark Harrison Cole Hendrix Jim Kleiss Bianca Moura Matías Ruffo Juliann Seebauer Martín Uribelarrea Mike Vincent Kyle Vogelzang Wendy White Acknowledgements Financial Support AGCO Agrium AgroFresh AgroTain BASF Dawn Equipment Dow AgroSciences DuPont GrowMark Honeywell Illinois Corn Marketing Board Illinois Fertilizer Research Council Monsanto Mosaic Orthman Pioneer Rosen s Inc. Syngenta Valent BioSciences WinField Solutions