January 7, 2021
TRIAL OBJECTIVE
- The objective of this study was to determine the seeding rate for multiple DEKALB® brand corn products that resulted in the greatest yield potential at two separate dryland locations (Scott City, KS, and Sublette, KS).
RESEARCH SITE DETAILS
| Location | Scott City, KS Sublette, KS |
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| Soil Type | Silt loam Silt loam |
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| Previous Crop | Corn Wheat |
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| Tillage Type |
No-tillage |
| Planting Date | 4/28/20 4/29/20 |
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| Harvest Date | 10/13/20 9/20/20 |
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| Potential Yield (bu/acre) |
150 150 |
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| Seeding Rate (seeds/acre) |
12 K, 16K, 20K, 24K 12 K, 16K, 20K, 24K |
- Four seeding rates, 12,000, 16,000, 20,000, and 24,000 seeds/acre, were evaluated with nine DEKALB® brand corn products, DKC51-25RIB, DKC51-99RIB, DKC55-37RIB, DKC55-85RIB, DKC59-82RIB, DKC61-41RIB, DKC62-53RIB, DKC63-55RIB, and DKC64-25RIB ranging in relative maturities (RM) from 101 to 114 RM.
- Each treatment was replicated four times at two locations, Scott City, KS, and Sublette, KS.
- Weeds were controlled as needed.
- Total shelled weight, test weight, and moisture were collected to calculate yield.
UNDERSTANDING THE RESULTS
- There was a significant interaction between corn product and seeding rate in this study.
- There was no seeding rate or corn product that consistently produced the highest average yields at either location (Figures 1 and 2). However, seven of the nine DEKALB® brand corn products at Scott and 8 of the 9 DEKALB brand corn products at Sublette had higher average yields with the 16,000, 20,000, or 24,000 seeds/acre seeding rates compared to the 12,000 seeds/acre seeding rate at both locations.
- For this trial, overall average yields were higher at the Sublette, KS location compared to the Scott City, KS location due to more rainfall at Sublette, KS during critical times of the growing season (Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 1. Average yield of DEKALB® brand corn products grown at multiple seeding rates under dryland conditions in Scott City, KS. *LSD (least significant difference) calculated as part of a larger trial containing 17 total products.
Figure 2. Average yield of DEKALB® brand corn products grown at multiple seeding rates under dryland conditions in Sublette, KS. *LSD (least significant difference) calculated as part of a larger trial containing 17 total products.
KEY LEARNINGS
- Dryland corn production can be challenging in tough, water stressed environments. In this dryland test, corn product yields were highly variable across seeding rates and locations. The testing indicated that using a seeding rate of 12,000 seeds/acre can be considered but higher yields were obtained across most of the corn products when using a seeding rate of 16,000 seeds/acre or more.
- Talk to your local DEKALB representative to determine which corn product and seeding rate best fit your production system.
3021_R2_20