Corn Management System Demonstration

Something went wrong. Please try again later...

Objective

  • Compare corn yield performance using a system of aggressive soil fertility and pest management practices with a more conventional low-input system.
Corn Management System Demonstration; July 31, 2014.

Corn Management System Demonstration; July 31, 2014.

Study Description

 Planting Date:     May 5, 2014
 Location:    Johnston, Iowa
 Plot Layout:    4 (10 x 17.4 ft plots per entry)
Factors: Pioneer® brand corn products
 Hybrid/Brand:    P1151AM™ (AM, LL, RR2)
 P1142AMX™ (AMX, LL, RR2)
 Population:    32,000 and 38,000 plants/acre
         

Management System:
 Intensive Management System

 
  • Nitrogen Fertility Program:
  •    
  • 180 lbs/acre N preplant
  •    
  • 50 lbs/acre sidedress N applied at V6 growth stage
  •    
  • 50 lbs/acre sidedress N applied at VT growth stage
  •  
  • Foliar Fungicide/Insecticide Application (VT):
  •    
  • Aproach® Prima fungicide (6.8 oz/acre) + Prevathon®
         insect control (20 oz/acre)
  •   Conventional Management System
       
  • Nitrogen Fertility Program: 180 lbs/acre N preplant
  •    
  • No foliar fungicide/insecticide
  • Results

    • The Johnston farm experienced extremely favorable growing conditions in 2014, with generally mild temperatures and adequate moisture. Insect and disease pressure were both minimal.
    • Overall yield levels were very high relative to previous years.
    • Intensive management practices increased yield by an average of only 2.6 bu/acre across corn products and populations; likely due to the generally low stress conditions in 2014.
    • Management effect on yield differed among populations, with similar yields between management systems at 32,000 plants/acre, but an increase of 8.8 bu/acre with intensive management at 38,000 plants/acre
      (Figure 1).
    • Both Pioneer® P1142AMX™ and P1151AM™ brand corn had substantially greater yield at higher populations; with increases of 10 bu/acre and 15 bu/acre, respectively (Figure 2).

    Figure 1. Management system effect on corn yield at 32,000 and 38,000 plants/acre in 2014

    Chart: Management system effect on corn yield at 32,000 and 38,000 plants/acre in 2014

    Figure 2. Yield of P1142AMX™ and P1151AM™ at 32,000 and 38,000 plants/acre in 2014.

    Chart: Yield of P1142AMX™ and P1151AM™

    Growing Season Conditions; Johnston, Iowa

    • 2012 - High Stress: Extreme heat and drought stress, partially mitigated by limited irrigation during July
    • 2013 - Moderate Stress: Very wet during the spring and dry later in the season; nitrogen deficiency symptoms apparent
    • 2014 - Minimal Stress: Extremely favorable growing conditions; adequate moisture and mild temperatures

    3-Year Results

    • Intensive management practices provided the greatest yield benefit in years when the corn experienced significant stress and minimal benefit when conditions were favorable (Figure 3).
    • In all 3 years of the study, intensive management practices provided a greater yield benefit at the higher plant population (Table 1, Figure 5).
    • Plant population effect on yield varied among years (Figure 4).

    Table 1. Corn yield advantage with intensive management by plant population (2012-2014).

      Population (plants/acre)  
    Year 32,000 38,000 Difference
      ----------------  bu/acre  ----------------
    2012 l8.2 23.4 5.2
    2013 12.3 17.4 5.2
    2014 -1.0 8.8 9.9
    Average 9.8 16.6 6.7

    Figure 3. Management system effect on corn yield, 2012-2014.

    Chart: Management system effect on corn yield, 2012-2014

    Figure 4. Plant population effect on corn yield, 2012-2014.

    Chart: Plant population effect on corn yield, 2012-2014.

    Figure 5. Management system and plant population effect on corn yield, 2012-2014.

    Chart: Management system and plant population effect on corn yield, 2012-2014

                  

    AM - Optimum® AcreMax® Insect Protection system with YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above-ground insects. In EPA-designated cotton growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax products. AMX - Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra Insect Protection system with YGCB, HXX, LL, RR2. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above- and below-ground insects. In EPA-designated cotton growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax Xtra products. HX1 - Contains the Herculex® I Insect Protection gene which provides protection against European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, black cutworm, fall armyworm, lesser corn stalk borer, southern corn stalk borer, and sugarcane borer; and suppresses corn earworm. HXX - Herculex® XTRA contains the Herculex I and Herculex RW genes. LL - Contains the LibertyLink® gene for resistance to Liberty® herbicide. RR2 - Contains the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait that provides crop safety for over-the-top applications of labeled glyphosate herbicides when applied according to label directions. YGCB - The YieldGard® Corn Borer gene offers a high level of resistance to European corn borer, southwestern corn borer and southern cornstalk borer; moderate resistance to corn earworm and common stalk borer; and above average resistance to fall armyworm. Herculex® Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Herculex® and the HX logo are registered trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Liberty®, LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are registered trademarks of Bayer. YieldGard®, the YieldGard Corn Borer design and Roundup Ready® are registered trademarks used under license from Monsanto Company.

    Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. 2012-2014 data are based on average of all comparisons made in one location through October 20, 2014. Multi-year and multi-location is a better predictor of future performance. Do not use these or any other data from a limited number of trials as a significant factor in product selection. Product responses are variable and subject to a variety of environmental, disease, and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. All Pioneer products are hybrids unless designated with AM1, AM, AMRW, AMX and AMXT, in which case they are brands.

    All products are trademarks of their manufacturers.