Steve Ruhl, Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent
Objective: To examine yield differences between 15- and 30-inch rows.
Background |
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| Site:
County: Nearest Town: Major Soil Type: Tillage: Previous Crop: Soil Test: |
County home farm
Morrow County Mt. Gilead Centerburg Conventional CRP (tall grasses) pH - 7.0 P - 44 ppm K - 90 ppm |
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| Fertilizer: | 60 pounds N as 28% with herbicides
135 pounds of nitrogen as urea |
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| Variety:
Planting Date: Harvest Date: Herbicides: |
Pre: Post: |
Golden Harvest 2495
May 11 October 19 Balance - 2 oz. Atrazine - 1.8 lb. Simazine - 0.9 lb. Accent - 2/3 oz. Clarity - 8 oz. UAN - 3/4% v/v |
The corn was planted using two John Deere 7000 planters. One was set-up for 30-inch rows, and the second had a splitter so the rows were 15-inches wide. Strip plots were planted with three replications of alternating 12-row plots of 15- and 30-inch rows; therefore, treatments were not randomized within blocks. Individual strip plots averaged 0.6 acre in size.
| Row Width | Planting Population plants/ac |
Harvest Population plants/ac |
Moisture (%) |
Yield bu/acre |
| 15-inch | 45,000 | 39,100 | 16.7 | 146.1 a |
| 30-inch | 30,200 | 27,900 | 17.2 | 151.0 a |
| Yield means not significantly different from each other at P = 0.05. LSD for yield equals 20.1 bu/ac. cv = 4.3% | ||||
Narrow-row corn has been documented to improve corn yields in the northern part of the Corn Belt. Increased yields may be the result of spreading the plants out to take advantage of sunlight, moisture, and soil fertility.
In this trial there was no significant difference between yields of 15-inch and 30-inch rows. The ear size on the corn in the 15-inch rows was very small.
We appreciate the collaboration of the Morrow County Soil and Water Conservation District in conducting this trial.
For additional information, contact:
Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County
871 W. Marion Rd., Suite 102
Mt. Gilead, OH 43338
419-947-1070
ruhl.1@osu.edu