Page 14—Corn Talk, Lancaster Farminj
Optimum Plant
Population For
Corn In Cecil County
In the wake of several
droughts, the most recent
occurring in 1993, there has
been considerable research into
identifying com populations
that will produce the most pro
fitable yields.
Research conducted on san
dy soils in Wicomico County
suggests that in most years
20,000 plants per acre may be
adequate for normal yields.
Here in Cecil County which
has predominantly silt loam
soils, the optimum plant popu
lation may be somewhat high
er. The trend in recent years by
local farmers is to increase
populations in an attempt to
increase yields. Is this trend
agronomically and economi
cally justifiable and which
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populations give maximum
economic yields?
The field chosen had Mata
peake silt loam soil types. Four
target seeding rates of 20,000,
24,000, 28,000, and 32,000
were selected to cover the
range of com populations that
have been planted in Cecil
County. Pioneer 3163 com was
planted on May 8,1995 with a
Case IH Cyclo Air com plant
er. Plots consisted of six
30-inch rows and were 1,500
feet long by IS feet wide.
Treatments were replicated
:wice. The farmer’s standard
:ultural practices were
followed.
Actual plant populations
were counted on June 14.
Analysis of variance for popu
ation showed treatment means
o be significantly different at
he 0.05 probability level with
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in LSD 0f2430 plants per acre. wei ghts were measured with a
Plots were harvested on Scp- wa B on converted to
ember 29,1995 with an Inter- bu/A at 15 5% moisture,
national 1460 combine. Plot
Table 1. Treatment means for plant population and corn yield.
Treatment Actual Population (plt/A) Yield (bu/A) Seed Cost (|/A)*
20.000 21,222 137.2 23.87
24.000 23.44 S 138.6 26.38
28.000 27.667 139.3 31.13
32.000 31,778 133.5 35.75
LSD (0.05) 2430 N.S.
Coefficient of Variation 2.91% 5.31%
♦Seed cost calculated using cost of $90.00 per 80,000 seed unit and assuming
100% germination and emergence. Actual seed cost will vary depending on price
of seed and germination and emergence.
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Yields were analyzed by
anaylsis of variance. No statis
tical differences were found at
the 0.05 probability level. The
trend observed shows yields
rising slightly from the 21,222
plant population level, peaking
at the 27,667 level, and falling
shaiply at the 31,778 plant
population level. At com grain
prices of $3.50 per bushel, a
fanner would only be econom
ically justified in increasing
plant populations from 21.222
to 23,445 plants per acre.
(Turn to Pag* 15)
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