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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Production Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401583
Research Project: Development of Productive, Profitable, and Sustainable Crop Production Systems for the Mid-South

Location: Crop Production Systems Research

Title: Assessing wind damage and potential yield loss in mid-season corn

Author
item Bhandari, Ammar
item Kharel, Tulsi
item Reddy, Krishna

Submitted to: Frontiers in Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/5/2023
Publication Date: 7/20/2023
Citation: Bhandari, A.B., Kharel, T.P., Reddy, K.N. 2023. Assessing wind damage and potential yield loss in mid-season corn. Frontiers in Agronomy. 5. Article 1195761. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2023.1195761.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2023.1195761

Interpretive Summary: Natural disasters such as flooding, hailstorms and wind damage impacting yield are common in corn-growing areas. Management practices, varieties, row, and wind direction also impact the extent of corn damage and yield loss during extreme weather conditions. The yield loss from wind damage can be significant depending on the extent of the windstorm. Hence, researchers from USDA-ARS Crop Production System Research Unit (CPSRU), Stoneville, MS, collected data during a damaging windstorm in 2022 growing season to analyze the impact of mid-season corn damage on potential yield loss. Results indicated that no nitrogen rates and row orientation effect on stalk damage. The average yield loss could be ~45 kg ha-1 with every 1% wind damage causing significant economic loss to producers. Research results can help estimate potential yield and economic loss to assist producers in decision-making in obtaining crop insurance and preparing for changing weather patterns and unprecedented severe windstorms in the future.

Technical Abstract: Yield loss due to natural disasters such as high-speed winds with rainfall storms can significantly damage standing corn (Zea mays L.) plants and yield. The study aimed to assess potential wind damage to corn yield and economic loss during a growing season in the Mississippi Delta. Midseason corn (V12-V14) snapping resulted on June 9, 2022. We recorded stalk breakage on thirteen fields (1.0 to 2.4 hectares) on low (224 kg ha-1) and high (336 kg ha-1) N rates and row orientations after the damage. The results indicated no nitrogen rates and row orientation effect on stalk damage. The average yield loss could be ~45 kg ha-1, with every 1% increase in wind damage causing significant economic loss to producers. Research results can help estimate potential yield and economic loss to assist producers in decision-making on crop insurance and preparing for changing weather patterns and unprecedented severe windstorms in the future.