Ohio State University Extension Bulletin

Agronomic Crops Team On-Farm Research Projects 2000

Special Circular 179-01

Ashtabula County Short-Season Corn Variety Test Plots

David L. Marrison, Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent
Phil E. Rzewnicki, On-Farm Research Coordinator

Objective

To provide a source of objective information on the relative performance of short-season corn hybrids currently available to Ashtabula County farmers.

Background

Cooperator: Keith Palmer Cooperator: Brian Forman
Nearest Town: Andover Nearest Town: Geneva
Major Soil Type: Platea silt loam Major Soil Type: Sheffield silt loam
Planting Date: April 27, 2000 Planting Date: May 3, 2000
Harvest Date: October 13, 2000 Harvest Date: October 26, 2000
Study Area Yield: 149 bu/A Study Area Yield: 155 bu/A
Study Area Moisture: 18.7% Study Area Moisture: 21.4%
Plot Size: Four 30" rows by 1,150 ft. Plot Size: Four 36" rows by 775 ft.
Cooperator: Rick Humphries Cooperator: Lester Marrison
Nearest Town: Orwell Nearest Town: Jefferson
Major Soil Type: Sheffield silt loam Major Soil Type: Sheffield silt loam
Planting Date: May 1, 2000 Planting Date: May 5, 2000
Harvest Date: October 23, 2000 Harvest Date: October 21, 2000
Study Area Yield: 116 bu/A Study Area Yield: 134 bu/A
Study Area Moisture: 18.6% Study Area Moisture: 19.2%
Plot Size: Six 30" rows by 2,175 ft. Plot Size: Four 36" rows by 500 ft.
Cooperator: Bill Hurst Cooperator: Larry Woodard
Nearest Town: Dorset Nearest Town: Cherry Valley
Major Soil Type: Sheffield silt loam Major Soil Type: Platea silt loam
Planting Date: May 30, 2000 Planting Date: May 6, 2000
Harvest Date: November 8, 2000 Harvest Date: October 18, 2000
Study Area Yield: 111 bu/A Study Area Yield: 180 bu/acre
Study Area Moisture: 22.8% Study Area Moisture: 21.6%
Plot Size: Twelve 30" rows by 725 ft. Plot Size: Four 34" rows by 1,000 ft.

Methods

This research project was designed to study the performance of short-season corn hybrids using six farms within the county as replicates. Hybrids submitted for evaluation were short-season hybrids with total growing degree days (GDD) required to reach physiological maturity to be less than 2,500 GDD. The specific characteristics that were analyzed were: yield, grain moisture at harvest, test weight, and gross return per bushel after corrections were made for drying costs and low test weights.

Hybrids were randomly planted in side-by-side strip plots at each of the six farm locations. Hybrids were planted with a commercial type planter. Fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides were applied according to recommended cultural practices for obtaining optimum grain yields. If space permitted, each host farm was permitted to put additional varieties in its plot.

Results

Table 1. Hybrid Performance Across Farm Locations1.
Hybrid/(Maturity) Yield2
(bu/A)		 Population
(plants/A)		 Test
Weight
(lbs/bu)		 Moisture
(%)		 Gross Return3
($/A)
Pioneer 36B08 (102) 158.3 a 25,667 54.2 cd 22.2 ef 255.09
Pioneer 37M34 (99) 150.0 ab 26,250 55.3 bc 21.3 de 245.47
Novartis N45T5 (102) 147.5 ab 25,417 53.3 d 21.7 def 238.30
Croplan 345 (93) 146.8 abc 26,917 56.3 ab 20.8 cd 241.20
Pioneer 38T27 (97) 145.6 abc 25,917 55.3 bc 19.7 bc 242.56
Novartis N27M3 (91) 140.3 bc 26,750 56.8 a 18.1 a 233.79
Croplan 396 (100) 139.3 bc 26,917 51.7 e 22.7 f 218.24
Novartis N21V6 (87) 138.5 bc 26,750 56.5 ab 18.8 ab 231.26
Pioneer 38P05 (94) 138.3 bc 26,083 55.7 ab 19.3 b 231.81
Novartis 3030 Bt (95) 135.5 bc 25,917 55.3 bc 19.3 b 233.59
Croplan Max 007 (95) 132.6 cd 25,833 55.8 ab 19.8 de 220.49
Pioneer 3893 (89) 120.4 d 26,417 55.3 bc 19.9 bc 202.11
Average 141.1 26,242 55.1 20.3 231.68
LSD(0.05) 15.0 NS 1.26 1.1  
F for yield means = 2.7 and CV (yields) = 9.1%. Indicates relative performance of hybrids not affected by farm location.
Population F<1 and CV (populations) = 7.5%. Indicates the population counts on each farm were consistent across hybrids.
Test Weights F = 10.8 and CV (test weights) = 2.0%.
Moisture F = 13.1 and CV (moisture) = 4.8%.

1 Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05.
2 Yields adjusted to 15.5% grain moisture.
3 Gross Return equals: $1.75 per bushel less discounts of 2 cents per point of moisture over 15.5% and 1 (53 lb.), 3 (52 lb.) cents for test weight under 54 lbs.

Summary

All 12 corn hybrids in the trial yielded higher than the 10-year county average of 106 bushels per acre and the five-year average of 116 bushels per acre. The combined average of 141 bushels per acre was remarkable, given the cool and wet growing season for Ashtabula County, especially in the month of July.

Ashtabula County farms encounter fewer growing degree days than most of the rest of Ohio. The use of short-season hybrids potentially increases gross returns by reducing the cost of drying longer-season corns. Additionally, the shorter-season corn varieties usually can be harvested earlier in the fall when weather conditions are more favorable.

For additional information, contact:

David L. Marrison
Ohio State University Extension, Ashtabula County
39 Wall Street
Jefferson, OH 44047
440-576-9008
marrison.2@osu.edu

Back | Forward | Table of Contents