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On-Farm Plant Population Responses

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Objectives

  • Over the past 2 years, Pioneer field agronomists have conducted a series of studies to evaluate new hybrids and how they respond to plant population, additional management and soil types.
  • The results demonstrate ways farmers can optimize their seed investment.

Study Description

Figure 1. Corn plant population research locations in 2012 and 2013.
study locations
Locations: 511 on-farm locations over 2 years 
Hybrids: 4 per location, 62 total
Populations:   
(plants per
acre - ppa) 
• 30,000       • 34,000
• 38,000 • 42,000
Soil Types: Trials were planted across productive as well as less productive areas to better understand how hybrids, population and management interact with local soil types.
Plot Size: 1 header width of the farmer's harvester by the length of the field.

Results

  • The 2012 and 2013 growing seasons were not favorable for corn production in Iowa. Mild to extreme moisture stress during silking and grain fill reduced yield potential.
  • Corn yield response to plant population differed among locations depending upon their yield level.
  • For example, yield was greatest at 30,000 ppa for farms yielding 140-180 bu/acre, while a population of 38,000 ppa produced the greatest yield among farms yielding over 220 bu/acre (Figures 2-4).
  • Results demonstrated how hybrids can respond differently to plant population (Figure 5).
  • The potential for lodging can be a concern at higher populations. Pioneer agronomists may recommend a population lower than that needed to maximize yield in order to mitigate the risk of lodging.

Summary

  • Consult with your Pioneer sales professional regarding how our new hybrids respond to soils, population and management in your unique area.

 

Figure 2. Yield response to plant populations in environments yielding greater than 220 bu/acre. n=47 locations of Iowa on-farm research.

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Figure 3. Yield response to plant populations in environments yielding between 180-220 bu/acre. n=215 locations of Iowa on-farm research.

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Figure 4. Yield response to plant populations in environments yielding between 140-180 bu/acre. n=157 locations of Iowa on-farm research.

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Figure 5. Hybrids can respond differently to plant population. Yield of Pioneer® P1365AMX™ brand corn (AMX, LL, RR2) had a greater than average response to plant population.

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Figure 6. Yield of Pioneer® hybrid P0993HR (HX1, LL, RR2) was maximized at 38,000 plants/acre and at 34,000 plants/acre for Pioneer® P1151AM™ brand corn (AM, LL, RR2).

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    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 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.
HXRW – The Herculex® RW Insect Protection trait contains proteins that provide enhanced resistance against western corn rootworm, northern corn rootworm, and Mexican corn rootworm.
HXX – Herculex® XTRA contains both the Herculex I and Herculex RW genes.
Herculex®  Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Herculex® and the HX logo are registered trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
LL - Contains the LibertyLink® gene for resistance to Liberty® herbicide.
Liberty®, LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of Bayer.
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.
YieldGard®, the YieldGard Corn Borer design and Roundup Ready® are registered trademarks used under license from Monsanto Company.
RR2 - Contains the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait that provides safety for over-the-top applications of labeled glyphosate herbicides when applied to label directions.
Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company.