Steve D. Ruhl, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent
To evaluate the effect of Gaucho seed treatment on corn yield.
| Cooperator: | Tom Weiler | Fertilizer: | 170 lb/A N, 27 lb/A |
| County: | Morrow | P2O5, 125 lb/A K20 | |
| Nearest town: | Chesterville | Herbicide: | PRE: 1.5 pt/A Dual II |
| Drainage: | Naturally well-drained | Magnum, 2 lb/A Atrazine, | |
| Soil type: | Chili loam | 2 oz/A Balance Pro | |
| Tillage: | Conventional | POST: 4 oz/A Distinct | |
| Previous Crop: | Soybeans | Row Width: | 30-inch |
| Variety: | See below | Planting Date: | May 16 |
| Soil Test: | pH 6.3, P 36 ppm, | Planting Rate: | 30,100 seeds/A |
| K 159 ppm | Harvest Date: | October 22 |
Gaucho treated seeds from each corn hybrid, Vigoro V5110 and Golden Harvest 8770, were compared with untreated seeds of the same hybrid. A split-planter design was used. Each treatment strip was six-rows wide and 500 feet long (0.17 A), replicated six times. The entire area was harvested and weighed with a weigh wagon.
Table 1. Corn Yields With and Without Seed Treatment.a
| Treatment | Hybrid | Yield | Yield |
| (bu/A) | (bu/A) | ||
| Gauch | Vigoro V5110 | 49.0 b | |
| No Gaucho | Vigoro V5110 | 53.2 a | |
| Gaucho | Golden Harvest 8770 | 62.0 b | |
| No Gaucho | Golden Harvest 8770 | 75.8 a | |
| LSD (0.05) | 3.8 | 11.5 | |
| F-test | 9.4 | 11.0 | |
| a Means in same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different. | |||
While monitoring the plots throughout the spring and summer, it was observed that the Gaucho-treated rows appeared greener and healthier compared to the untreated rows. When the plots were harvested on October 22, yields in the Gaucho-treated plots were significantly lower than the untreated plots (Table 1). Due to droughty conditions, the 2002 crop year may not have been a very good growing season to evaluate the use of seed treatments. We will try to evaluate the use of Gaucho-treated seed corn in the future when more normal growing conditions prevail.
The author would like to thank Royster Clark and Golden Harvest for providing the seed used in the study. A special thanks is extended to the cooperator, Tom Weiler.
For additional information, contact:
Steve Ruhl
Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County
871 W. Marion Rd., Suite 102
Mt. Gilead, OH 43338
419-947-1070
ruhl1@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu