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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #188242
Title: OPTIMAL ROW SPACINGS AND PLANT POPULATIONS FOR SINGLE AND TWIN ROW CORN PRODUCTION

Author
item SATTERWHITE, JASON - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Balkcom, Kipling
item Arriaga, Francisco
item Price, Andrew
item VAN SANTEN, EDZARD - AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Branch Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2006
Publication Date: 2/6/2006
Citation: Satterwhite, J., Balkcom, K.S., Arriaga, F.J., Price, A.J., Van Santen, E. 2006. Optimal row spacings and plant populations for single and twin row corn production [abstract]. Southern Branch American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting. 2006 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Corn (Zea Mays L.) produced in narrow rows can increase yields and reduce weed competition through quicker canopy closure. Costly equipment modifications make narrow rows impractical, but a twin row configuration may boost production with fewer equipment modifications. We compared yield and leaf area index (LAI) for a conventional (CV) and glyphosate tolerant (GT) hybrid across three plant populations (low 39000-44000; medium 64000-69000; high 79000-84000 plants ha-1) in two row patterns (single vs. twin) at four locations during the 2005 growing season. The experimental design was a split-split plot with four replications. Main plots were hybrid, subplots were row patterns, and sub-plots were population. Yields exhibited an interaction between hybrid and population at three locations. The CV hybrid yielded 15% (8.6 vs. 7.3 Mg ha-1), 12% (9.9 vs. 8.7 Mg ha-1), and 16% (8.7 vs. 7.3 Mg ha-1) higher than the GT hybrid at the medium population. Across locations, the CV hybrid generally yielded higher at the low and medium population, while the GT hybrid yielded higher at the high populations. Row spacing did not affect yields. Corn yields did not always increase with increased populations. At two locations LAI values of the twin row pattern were 13% (3.1 vs. 2.7 m2 m-2) and 10% (3.3 vs. 3.0 m2 m-2) higher than the standard row pattern. Leaf area index generally increased with increased plant populations and twin row configurations. Twin row corn resulted in a faster canopy closure, but corn yields were not influenced by row pattern.