Investment in corn hybrid seed is, of course, an annual necessity. Which corn population returns the most for your investment?
Michigan State University Extension educators who work with the Thumb Ag Research and Education (TARE) project evaluated optimal corn seed populations in 2013. Planted populations ranged from 30,000 seeds per acre to 44,000 seeds per acre with incremental increases of 2,000 seeds. This population study was established at two sites in Huron County, one near Pigeon, Mich., and the other near Filion, Mich. This study was similar to a series of studies established in 2008-2010 when the evaluated populations ranged from 24,000 to 38,000 seeds per acre and where 32,000 seeds per acre were found to be the most profitable population.
The corn was planted in 30-inch rows and the hybrid Great Lakes 4879VT2RIB was used. Note that the studies were established on high yielding, well-tiled loamy ground. Actual plant stands were measured June 11, 2013. The Pigeon site was planted on May 14, and the Filion site was planted on May 15. Actual populations were very similar to planted populations. See the following table.
Pigeon | Filion |
Target pop | Actual pop | % of target | Target pop | Actual pop | % of target |
30K | 30,750 | 102.5% | 30K | 30,250 | 100.8% |
32K | 31,813 | 99.4% | 32K | 32,250 | 100.8% |
34K | 33,625 | 98.9% | 34K | 33,750 | 99.3% |
36K | 35,688 | 99.1% | 36K | 36,000 | 100.0% |
38K | 37,250 | 98.0% | 38K | 38,250 | 100.7% |
40K | 38,500 | 96.3% | 40K | 39,250 | 98.1% |
42K | 42,813 | 101.9% | 42K | 42,750 | 101.8% |
44K | 43,667 | 99.2% | 44K | 43,375 | 98.6% |
Gross returns per acre for each population were calculated using a corn price of $4.30 per bushel and a per bag seed cost of $275. Thus, each incremental increase of 2,000 seeds increases costs $6.88 per acre and an additional 1.6 bushels per acre yield would be necessary to cover the increased seed cost. See the following tables for results.
Target pop | Pigeon | Filion | Average | Return per acre |
Yield (Bu/A) | Yield (Bu/A) | Yield (Bu/A) |
30K | 170.9 | 209.9 | 190.4 | $715.62 |
32K | 173.4 | 218.7 | 196.1 | $733.08 |
34K | 174.2 | 222.3 | 198.2 | $735.58 |
36K | 176.8 | 220.8 | 198.8 | $731.20 |
38K | 178.9 | 226.6 | 202.7 | $741.14 |
40K | 185.0 | 223.8 | 204.4 | $741.29 |
42K | 174.8 | 225.4 | 200.1 | $716.16 |
44K | 183.3 | 227.0 | 205.1 | $730.85 |
Average | 177.2 | 221.8 | 199.5 | |
Max | 185.0 | 227.0 | 205.1 | |
Min | 170.9 | 209.9 | 190.4 | |
LSD @ 0.05 | 11.2 | 13.9 | 14.2 | |
CV (%) | 3.5 | 3.2 | 4.7 | |
*Bolded yields are not statistically different than highest yielding population.
At the Pigeon site, populations of 34,000 and greater yielded significantly more than the 32,000 and 30,000 populations. At the Filion site, and when yields from the two sites were averaged, all populations of 32,000 and greater yielded statistically similar and greater than the 30,000 population at the 0.05 level. Curiously, returns per acre were greatest at the 38,000 and 40,000 populations.
This study will be repeated in 2014 and 2015.
Source : msu.edu