The Effect of Planting Date, Hybrid, Row Spacing, and Starter Fertilizer on Corn Growth and Development

Download or read book The Effect of Planting Date, Hybrid, Row Spacing, and Starter Fertilizer on Corn Growth and Development written by Philip Sheridan Ramsel and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This experiment was conducted during the 1999 and 2000 growing seasons at the Iowa State University Sorenson Farm located southwest of Ames, Iowa and at the Iowa State University North Central Research and Demonstration Farm located south of Kanawha, Iowa. The experimental design for both locations was a randomized complete block with a split-split-split plot design and three replications of each treatment. Treatments included three planting dates, three hybrids, two row spacings, and two fertility regimes. Whole plot treatment was planting date and split plot treatments were hybrid, row spacing, and fertility regime. Significant difference was found between row spacing treatments for yield with the June planting dates in 1999 with 38-cm row spacing yielding more than 76-cm row spacing. Significant difference was not found between row spacing treatments for yield at the other planting dates in 1999 or in 2000. As planting date was delayed, weight kernel−1 decreased at both locations in both years. Starter fertilizer produced significantly higher yields in 1999, with a cold and wet spring, but not in 2000 with a warm and dry spring. Producers should rely on calendar date recommendations in determining optimum planting date. Planting dates between late April to early May should result in maximum yields in most years. Starter fertilizer may provide benefits during a cold and wet spring as well in situations of a low soil test for P or K.