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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289397
Title: Corn grain and stover yield prediction at R1 growth stage

Author
item MOURTIZINIS, SPYRIDON - Auburn University
item ARRIAGA, FRANCISCO - University Of Wisconsin
item Balkcom, Kipling
item ORTIZ, BRENDA - Auburn University

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/2013
Publication Date: 5/6/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/56835
Citation: Mourtizinis, S., Arriaga, F.J., Balkcom, K.S., Ortiz, B.V. 2013. Corn grain and stover yield prediction at R1 growth stage. Agronomy Journal. 105:1045-1050.

Interpretive Summary: Corn (Zea mays L.) grain and stover yield estimation early in the growing season is an appealing idea. An accurate estimation of the yield of the final product could benefit farmers, as well as corn related industries. The objective of this study was to develop prediction models that could estimate corn grain and stover yield at harvest using simple physiological measurements early in the growing season. The experiment was established at two locations in 2009, in central and north Alabama. It consisted of a 3x4x2 complete factorial design arranged in a split-splitplot. Factors were; winter rye (Secale cereale) cover crop (main plot), nitrogen (N) fertilization rates (sub-plot) and stover residue harvest (sub-sub-plot) replicated three times at each location. All measurements from this study, across years and locations, were used for the creation of the final regression equations in order to create robust prediction models. The regression was significant at early vegetative growth stages with the amount of explainable variability maximized at R1 stage. For the grain yield model, maximum R2 was 0.7967 and for the stover model maximum R2 reached 0.8612. This study suggests that total precipitation from planting until R1 growth stage, and simple physiological measurements can be used to predict corn grain and stover yield.

Technical Abstract: Corn (Zea mays L.) grain and stover yield estimation early in the growing season is an appealing idea. An accurate estimation of the yield of the final product could benefit farmers, as well as corn related industries. The objective of this study was to develop prediction models that could estimate corn grain and stover yield at harvest using simple physiological measurements early in the growing season. The experiment was established at two locations in 2009, in central and north Alabama. It consisted of a 3x4x2 complete factorial design arranged in a split-splitplot. Factors were; winter rye (Secale cereale) cover crop (main plot), nitrogen (N) fertilization rates (sub-plot) and stover residue harvest (sub-sub-plot) replicated three times at each location. All measurements from this study, across years and locations, were used for the creation of the final regression equations in order to create robust prediction models. The regression was significant at early vegetative growth stages with the amount of explainable variability maximized at R1 stage. For the grain yield model, maximum R2 was 0.7967 and for the stover model maximum R2 reached 0.8612. This study suggests that total precipitation from planting until R1 growth stage, and simple physiological measurements can be used to predict corn grain and stover yield.