Dl4—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 19,1984
Many factors affect corn emergence
DeKALB, 11. Last year many
farmers expressed amazement at
the ability of early-planted com to
survive the cold, wet environment
of late April and early May.
Seedling emergence, which can be
defined as the germination of seed
and growth of the new seedling
through the soil surface, is affected
by many factors. Most of these are,
to some degree, controlled by the
farmer’s management.
Soil temperature plays a key role
in emergence. Com seed requires
a minimum of 50°F while soybean
and sorghum seed requires 60°F
for successful germination. Once
germinated, the rate of growth of
the seedling toward the soil sur
face is controlled by soil tem
perature.
The calendar and tradition are
helpful in determining when to
begin planting a certain crop.
However, five to ten day weather
forecasts are becoming more
accurate and should be considered
when early planting is anticipated.
Soil temperature is affected by soil
color, moisture, texture, orien
tation to the sun (south slopes
warm up quicker), and depth.
Thus, a daily log of soil tem
perature readings at planting
depth will be extremely useful.
Soil moisture - too much or too
little - is the next most important
factor in seedling emergence.
Since the seed and seedling are
living organisms, they require
adequate moisture and oxygen to
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Mike Fisher
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Bern Spraying Our Businiss, not • skloline.
survive after germination begins.
Sometimes there is excess
moisture in the soil and the seed
and seedling may literally suf
focate before emergence.
Adequate drainage and
minimizing compaction are ways
to reduce the risk of excess
moisture and lack of oxygen.
Inadequate soil moisture will
prevent seed germination, tool.
Planting depth varies according
to the crop being seeded. Alfalfa
and other small-seeded crops
require no more than good seed
soil contact. Sorghum should be
planted no deeper than IVz inches,
soybeans no more than 2 inches,
and corn no more than 2% to 3
inches. With adequate moisture,
one-half the above maximum
depths should give excellent
emergence.
Other controllable factors that
affect seedling emergence are
insects and chemicals. Depending
on the area and preceding crops,
various insects can destroy the
seed and/or the seedling. Nearly
all these insects can be adequately
controlled by chemicals or cultural
practices.
Occasionally chemicals used to
protect the crop can injure it.
Herbicides and insecticides vary in
level of crop safety. Additionally,
their level of safety is affected by
rate, method and timing of ap
plication. When choosing
chemicals, be sure to determine
their compatibility with each
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other, crop safety, as well as how
well they control target pests.
One situation that can seriously
affect emergence is un
controllable, but correctable.
Heavy rainfall followed by bright,
sunny days can cause crusting of
soils that contain moderate to high
amounts of clay. When this occurs,
a rotary hoe often makes the
difference between success and
disaster. The rotary hoe is par
ticularly useful for saving a field of
corn, soybeans, or sorghum that
has crusted before emergence.
Soybeans and sorghum are less
able to push through a crust than
are com seedlings.
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DE FOREST, Wise. A young
Holstein bull, Browncroft Format-
ET, bred by William Brown, of
Rome, Pa., has been selected by
American Breeders Service to
enter their Progeny Testing
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He has been moved to that
company’s facilities at DeForest,
Wise., where he will join ap
proximately 170 other hulls being
OTTO
_ „ .. operate an 80-cow dairy/cash
MEADVILLE Annually, the grain farm.
Pennsylvania Farm Credit His project book m-
Associations sponsor the Future eluded two dairy calves, three
Farmers of America Record- (jairy heifers, five dairy cows, and
Keeping Contest. It is judged m a fjgjd corn enterprise.
February at Penn State. Reese was awarded a plaque and
Judging is done on three levels : a $3OO United States savings bond
(A.) The best record m the state, gi a j r p McCurdy, Associate
(B.) The bestrecord book in the Manager-Operations of the
district; (C.) The best record book Meadville Farm Credit office, at a
in each county. recent Annual FFA Banquet.
The state winner this year was This is the second year in a row
David B. Reese, a student at tlmt Meadville Associations have
Cochranton High School. He is the a winner. Last year, John
son of Mr. and Mrs. Jon B. Reese, Greene, Jr., of Conneautville, was
R 2, Box 184, Guys Mills, who state winner.
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tested this year.
Browncroft Format-ET’s
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