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Corn Physiology
Experiment
Plains, Georgia
Preliminary - One Year’s Data
-1967
A corn Physiology experiment
was conducted at the Southwest
Georgia Branch Experiment Sta
tion in 1967 to compare a single
cross hybrid and a double cross
hybrid variety. A variety for each
classification was selected by its
anticipated growth and perfor
mance characteristics under high
plant populations per acre. The
experiment was subdivided into
an irrigated and non-irrigated
test with four replications for
each treatment in each test. The
treatments consisted of three
row widths and five spacings
in the drill for each row width.
The row widths were 20, 30
and 40 inches with 6,9, 12, 15,
and 18 inches as the drill spac
ings. Plot size for each treat
ment was four rows 20 feet long.
Data were recorded from the two
inside rows and projected to an
acre basis. Data recorded for
each treatment were grain yield,
stover yield, plant height, ear
height, number of ears and har
vest populations.
The experiment was planted
March 16, 1967. A broadcast
application of 1,000 pounds of
6-12-12 fertilizer and 200 pounds
of actual nitrogen per acre was
applied prior to planting. The
area was sprayed with a recom
mended herbicide and no cultural
practices were performed. Rain
fall recorded for the first sixty
days after planting was 3.06 in
ches. It was observed that the
single cross variety reached the
tasseling and silking stage ap
proximately 15 days earlier than
the double cross variety (ap
proximately 60 days after plant
ing as compared to 75 days). Ir
rigation water was applied to the
irrigated test on May 16, (60
days after planting) and continued
until harvest as deemed neces
sary by observation. Natural
rainfall recorded for both tests
until harvest was 21.04 inches
for the single cross variety and
22.52 inches for the double cross
TOPICS:
• Seed Selection
• Planting Techniques
• Weed Control
• Insect Control
• Fertilizing
• Row Width & Spacing
• Harvesting
■ Machinery & Equipment
• Tillage Techniques
• Systems Farming
• Farm Buildings
• Drying A Storage
• Moisture Utilization
variety. Five inches of irri
gation water was applied to the
irrigation test in addition to the
natural rainfall recorded.
The irrigated and non-irrigat
ed test for the single cross
variety was harvested on July
26, with an estimated moisture
content of 25 to 30 percent.
Some corn weevil damage was
observed at harvesting. Both
tests, irrigated and non-irrigat
ed, for the double cross variety
were harvested on August 11, with
moisture content estimated to be
20 to 25 percent. No weevil
damage was observed at har
vesting for this variety.
Grain yield data for 1967 are
shown in Tables 1 and 2. It is
comtemplated that grain yields
for the single cross variety may
have been reduced some by the
earliness of this variety in con
junction with the natural rain
fall pattern which existed this
year. Irrigation possibly should
have started sooner for the irri
gation test for this variety. It
appears that the five inches of
irrigation water increased yields
significantly for both the single
cross and double cross variety
planted in 20 and 30 inch rows.
The difference between the irri
gated and non-irrigated test for
the 40 inch row spacing is rela
tively small. Calculated plant
populations per acre are pre
sented in Table 3.
Table 1. Grain Yield V Data Non-irrigated Test- Plains, Georgia, 1967
Drill Single Cross-Dekalb XL-65 Double Cross-Pioneer 309-B
Row Width Row Width
Spacing 20" 30" 40" Average 20" 30" 40" Average
6" 114 92 85 97 137 881/ 118 114 3/
9" 98 124 72 98 116 113 109 113
12" 114 102 74 97 127 127 101 118
15" 94 104 63 87 113 109 108 110
18" 105 90 56 84 140 111 91 114
Average 105 102 70 127 110 3/ 105
1/ Grain yield reported in bushels per acre adjusted to 15.5% moisture and
56 pounds per bushel.
2/ Yields from two of the four replications for this treatment were severly
reduced by a heavy infestation of Johnson grass. The average yield for
the two treatments not effected by Johnson grass was 129 bushels per acre.
3/ Averages effected by low yield explained in footnote 2.
Table 2. Grain Yield 1/ Data - Irrigated Test - Plains, Georgia, 1967
Drill Single Cross-Dekalb XL-65 Double Cross-Pioneer 309-B
Row WidtE Row Width
Spacing 20" 30" 40" Average 20" 30" 40" Average
6" 165 160 "93 139 182 W 139 176
9" 147 140 82 123 178 180 119 159
12" 138 134 81 118 173 191 120 161
15" 145 111 65 107 169 171 113 151
18" 123 131 68 107 166 146 87 133
Average 144 135 78 174 179 116
“17 Grain yield reported in bushels per acre adjusted to 15.5% moisture and
56 pounds per bushel.
Table 3. Calculated Plant Population per Acre for Three Row Widths and Five
Drill Spacings.
Row Width Drill Spacing
6" 9" 12" 15" 18"
20" 52,272 34,848 26,136 20,909 17,414
30" 34,848 23; 232 17,424 13,939 11,616
40" 26,136 17,424 13,068 10,454 8,712
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