Trial Background
- “Higher plant populations are one of the most important ways to achieve the highest possible corn yields.” – Dr. Fred Below, Plant Physiologist, University of Illinois
- Yield gains brought by plant density increases are mainly explained by the introductions of new traits and technologies and continual breeding improvement.
- Many studies have indicated that germplasm responds differently to various populations. Two characteristics that influence a response to population are consistency of kernel count per ear and stalk quality.
- It has also been demonstrated that favourable yield environments have a greater positive response to higher populations than moderate or low yield environments.
Trial Objective
- Evaluate DEKALB® brand corn germplasm under six seeding rates ranging from 24,000 to 50,000 seeds/acre to develop custom seeding rate recommendations.
- Recommendations to be published after data is collected on a minimum of five sites over two years. Third year of data could be added if products are expected to have a longer life span.
- Data generated to be used for:
- DEKALB® Seed Guide.
- Climate FieldView™ Platform advanced seed scripts.
Experiment/Trial Design
- Group block with corn product as the first group level and population as the second level.
- Two to seven DEKALB® brand corn products per set (Figure 1).
- Seeding rates of 24,000, 31,000, 35,000, 39,000, 43,000, and 50,000 seeds/acre.
- Three replications.
- Plot size 10 ft x 23 ft.
- Climate FieldView™ Platform mapping function to be used on research planters.
- Sites fertilized with at least 180 lb/acre nitrogen (preferably with most applied at V6 to V8 growth stage) and about 70 lb/acre each of phosphorus and potassium.
- Evaluations
- R3 to R5 growth stage
- Harvest
- Root Lodging Count (RTLC)
- Stalk Lodging Count (STLC)
- Intactness Above the Ear (INT)
- Shell Weight (SHW)
- Percent Moisture Content (MST)
- Test Weight (TWT)
Understanding the Results
- Population management for each DEKALB® brand corn product is important for optimizing its yield potential.
- Potential yield varies by seasonal growing conditions, final population, soil fertility, pest infestations, rainfall, soil type, corn product, and other factors.
- In general, the largest increase in yield occurred when seeding rates increased to 31,000 from 24,000 seeds/acre.
- Average yields for 2021 were higher compared to the 2011 to 2020 average for Eastern Canada.
- Average yields for 2021 trended lower for Western Canada because of reduced rainfall.
- Average yield can vary depending on characteristic ear size of the different corn products (Figures 8, 9, and 10).
|
Overall Results, 2011-2019, Eastern Canada, Market Development Trials
|
|
Target Seeding Rate
|
Count
(n = )*
|
Harvest Population
(1000 plants/acre)
|
Staygreen (1-9)**
|
Root Lodging
(%)
|
Stalk Lodging (%)
|
Intactness > Ear
(1-9)
|
Moisture Content
(%)
|
Test Weight
(lbs/bu)
|
Average Yield
(bu/acre)
|
|
24,000
|
964
|
24.2
|
4.7
|
0.4
|
0.6
|
3.4
|
24.5
|
53.5
|
188.9
|
|
31,000
|
964
|
29.1
|
4.9
|
0.5
|
0.8
|
3.7
|
24.2
|
53.4
|
201.2
|
|
35,000
|
964
|
34.2
|
5.1
|
0.8
|
1.4
|
3.9
|
24.1
|
53.4
|
208.0
|
|
39,000
|
964
|
39.2
|
5.3
|
0.9
|
2.1
|
4.1
|
24.2
|
53.3
|
210.3
|
|
50,000
|
964
|
43.9
|
5.4
|
1.2
|
3.2
|
4.3
|
24.1
|
53.3
|
209.3
|
|
Average
|
964
|
34.1
|
5.1
|
0.8
|
1.6
|
3.9
|
24.2
|
53.4
|
203.5
|
|
*n = corn products x sites; **1 = best, 9 = worst
|
Figure 1. Overall results, 2011-2019, Eastern Canada. Largest average yield increase (12.3 bu/acre) resulted from the 7,000 seeds/acre increase from 24,000 to 31,000.
|
Overall Results, 2020 - 2021, Eastern Canada, Market Development Trials
|
|
Target Seeding Rate
|
Count
(n = )*
|
Harvest Population
(1000 plants/acre)
|
Staygreen (1-9)**
|
Root Lodging
(%)
|
Stalk Lodging (%)
|
Intactness > Ear
(1-9)
|
Moisture Content
(%)
|
Test Weight
(lbs/bu)
|
Average Yield
(bu/acre)
|
|
24,000
|
199
|
24.8
|
6.2
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
3.5
|
23.6
|
54.1
|
195.4
|
|
31,000
|
199
|
31.6
|
6.8
|
0.8
|
0.5
|
3.7
|
23.4
|
54.0
|
209.5
|
|
35,000
|
199
|
35.3
|
6.8
|
0.9
|
0.7
|
3.8
|
23.4
|
53.9
|
212.5
|
|
39,000
|
199
|
39.1
|
7.0
|
1.2
|
0.8
|
3.9
|
23.3
|
53.8
|
216.0
|
|
43,000
|
199
|
42.8
|
7.0
|
1.6
|
1.4
|
4.0
|
23.3
|
53.7
|
216.2
|
|
50,000
|
199
|
48.9
|
7.2
|
1.8
|
1.5
|
4.0
|
23.4
|
53.5
|
214.8
|
|
Average
|
199
|
37.1
|
6.8
|
1.1
|
0.9
|
3.8
|
23.4
|
53.8
|
210.7
|
|
*n = corn products x sites; **1 = best, 9 = worst
|
Figure 2. Overall results, 2020 – 2021, Eastern Canada. Largest average yield increase (14.1 bu/acre) resulted from the 7,000 seeds/acre increase from 24,000 to 31,000.
Figure 3. Average yield and lodging by final population, 2011-2021 Eastern Canada.
Figure 4. Average yield and lodging and return by final population, 2011-2020 vs. 2021 at two price points.
|
Three Yield (bu/acre) Environments (High, Mid, and Low) per Maturity Zone
|
|
|
≤ 80 RM
|
81 – 85 RM
|
86 – 90 RM
|
91 – 95 RM
|
96 – 100 RM
|
≥ 101 RM
|
|
High
|
>150
|
>170
|
>190
|
>200
|
>210
|
>220
|
|
Mid
|
130 - 150
|
140 - 170
|
150 - 190
|
160 - 200
|
165 - 210
|
170 - 220
|
|
Low
|
<130
|
<140
|
<150
|
<160
|
<165
|
<170
|
|
Economics: Grain price = $6.75/bu; Seed price = $300/80,000 kernels (95% germination) From DEKALB® PRO:
< 80 RM: Low = <110 bu/acre, Mid = 120 – 140 bu/acre, High => 140 bu/acre
80-90 RM: Low = <140 bu/acre, Mid=140 – 180 bu/acre, High = > 180 bu/acre
>90 RM: Low = < 160 bu/acre, Mid =160 -210 bu/acre, High = 210 bu/acre
|
Figure 5. Each maturity zone was represented by three yield environments (High, Mid, and Low).
Figure 6. Example of DEKALB® brand DKC41-99RIB performance (yield and dollars/acre) relative to population and yield environment.
Figure 7. Average yield, lodging percent, and economic return by final population for high, mid, and low yield environments (2011-2018, Eastern Canada).
Figure 8. Average yield and lodging percent for DEKALB® brand DKC29-89RIB, a fairly fixed ear product in a high yield environment (2018, Eastern Canada).
Figure 9. Average yield and lodging percent for DEKALB® brand DKC42-05RIB, a fixed ear product in a high yield environment (2018, Eastern Canada).
Figure 10. Average yield and lodging percent for DEKALB® brand DKC45-65RIB showing increasing average yield as seeding rate increased to about 45,000 seeds/acre in a high yield environment and slight increase in a mid-environment (2018, Eastern Canada).
Key Learnings
- Seeding rate studies for each corn product should continue.
- Final plant stands along with seasonal growing conditions play an important role in maximizing yield potential and economic profitability.
Legal Statements
The information discussed in this report is from a multiple site, replicated demonstration. This informational piece is designed to report the results of this demonstration and is not intended to infer any confirmed trends. Please use this information accordingly.
Services and products offered by The Climate Corporation are subject to the customer agreeing to our Terms of Service. Our services provide estimates or recommendations based on models. These do not guarantee results. Before making financial, risk management and farming decisions, agronomists, commodities brokers and other service professionals should be consulted. More information at https://climatefieldview.ca/legal/disclaimer. FieldView™ is a registered trademark of The Climate Corporation. Used under license. Bayer is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Bayer’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. These products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from these products can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for these products. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Performance may vary from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields.
Roundup Ready® 2 Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Tank mixtures: The applicable labeling for each product must be in the possession of the user at the time of application. Follow applicable use instructions, including application rates, precautions and restrictions of each product used in the tank mixture. Bayer has not tested all tank mix product formulations for compatibility or performance other than specifically listed by brand name. Always predetermine the compatibility of tank mixtures by mixing small proportional quantities in advance. Bayer, Bayer Cross, DEKALB®, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready®, SmartStax® and VT Double PRO® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. Used under license. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of BASF. Used under license. Herculex® is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Bayer Crop Science Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada. ©2022 Bayer Group. All rights reserved. 1210_32350