Corn response across plant densities and row configurations for different moisture environments

Authors: Balkcom, Kipling; BOWEM, KIRA - Auburn University

Submitted to: International Journal of Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2019
Publication Date: 3/5/2020
Citation: Balkcom, K.S., Bowem, K.L. 2020. Corn response across plant densities and row configurations for different moisture environments. International Journal of Agronomy. vol. 2020. Article ID 4518062, 10 pages, https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/4518062.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/4518062

Interpretive Summary: Corn production in the Southeast can be risky due to inconsistent summer rainfall and sandy soils with low moisture holding capacities. However, irrigation combined with conservation tillage and cover crops may support greater plant populations arranged in different row patterns to improve yield. An ARS scientist and Auburn University scientist, both located in Auburn, AL, studies data from five site-years of data across sandy and clay soil types from Alabama to compare corn yields in a conservation system across three plant populations planted in single- and twin-row configurations across dryland and irrigated moisture regimes. Benefits of increased rainfall and irrigation to reduce soil moisture stress across drought prone soils was evident. Results across all site-years indicated no yield response as plant populations increased, but greater yields were observed with the greatest plant populations in the moderate moisture environments. Although, no advantage for twin-row corn production was observed across five site-years in Alabama, the lack of advantage for either row configuration indicates single or twin rows can be successfully adopted for corn production across the region.

Technical Abstract: Corn (Zea mays L.) production in the Southeast can be risky due to erratic summer rainfall and drought prone coarse-textured soils, but irrigation combined with conservation tillage and cover crops may support greater plant densities arranged in different row configurations to improve yield. We examined five site-years of data across two soil types in Alabama to compare corn yields in a conservation system across three plant densities for single- and twin-row configurations in dryland and irrigated moisture regimes. Treatments were arranged with a split plot treatment restriction in a RCB design with three replications. Main plots were irrigation level (no irrigation and irrigation), and subplots were a factorial arrangement of three plant densities (5.9, 7.4, and 8.9 plants m-2) and row configurations (single and twin). A moisture environment (low and moderate) variable, defined by growing season rainfall, was used to further distinguish among site-years. In general, the moderate moisture environment and irrigation improved each measured variable (plant height, stover yield, corn yield, and test weight) and decreased grain N concentration and aflatoxin levels compared to the low moisture environment with no irrigation. Benefits of increased rainfall and irrigation to reduce soil moisture stress across drought prone soils was evident. Pooled results across all site-years indicated no yield response as plant density increased, but greater yields were observed with the greatest plant densities in the moderate moisture environments. No advantage for twin-row corn production was observed across five site-years in Alabama, which indicates either row configuration can be successfully adopted.