7,
f.
Page T>lk; Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February : 10,‘ 1996
RESEARCH
UPDATE
(Contlnuad from Pago 33)
markers were not
readjusted leaving a
30-inch guess row
spacing between
every plot. This
served as a guide for
positioning the outer
row dividers when
harvesting the
15-inch plots with the
6-row corn head.
Two 15-inch rows
were pulled into each
of the * combine row
units. Both hybrids
were standing well at
harvest. After harvest
a survey of the field
showed no more lost
ears in the 15-inch
plots than in the
30-inch plots. This
demonstrated' that
15-inch com should
be harvested effi
ciently with a 30-inch
com head if: 1) the
com is standing well
and, 2) wider guess
rows are left as a
guide.
Plot yields were
weighed in a weight
wagon and sampled
for moisture content.
Yields, converted to
bushels/acres and
adjusted to 15.5 per
cent moisture con
tent, ranged from
86.5 to 156.1 bushels/
acre.
Statistical analysis
using ANOVA
showed no significant
difference in yield for
row spacing, hybrid,
and no interaction at
the 0.05 probability
level. There were,
however, some
noticeable, if not sig
nificant, trends. In the
upper two blocks
(good soils) the Pion
eer hybrid responded
positively while the
Ciba hybrid
responded negatively
to 15-inch row spac
ing. In the lower two
blocks (poorer soils)
15-inch row spacing
depressed yeilds sub
stantially for both
hybrids.
From just one year
of data it is difficult to
make many conclu
sions, but this was a
learning experience.
We did prove that it is
possible to success
fully produce narrow
row com with con
ventional farm equip
ment. We also
showed that narrow
row com may not be
suitable for all envi
ronments. Our data,
like Penn State’s
research, suggests
that narrow row com
is probably better
suited to more pro
ductive soils and bet
ter growing environ
ments.
We also saw what appeared
to be a hybrid interaction. On
the upper two blocks (good
soil) Pioneer 3163 gave a 24
percent yield increase in nar
row rows while Ciba 5190 X
had a 10 percent decrease. On
the lower two blocks (poorer
soils) Pioneer 3163 and Ciba
Table 1. Yields of two corn hybrids
planted at 15* and 30-Inch row spacing*.
5190 X had yield decreases of . Hybrid Row Spacing (In) Block Population Yield (bu/A)
32 percent and 18 percent ??.? neer 1 25,000 111.5
respectively when comparing ™ J g-g®
15-mch rows to 30-inch rows. Cibt 15 1 24|333 133 3
At the present time much Cibt 30 2 24)333 133)7
more research is needed to Koneer 30 2 26.666 128.5
identify suitable hybrid and J?.?* I*® 1 *® 15 2 27,000 141.6
environments before narrow w \ gIS 1209
row com can become a recom- cibt 30 3 21666 iwo
mended practice. Thanks to Cibt 15 3 27)333 84.9
Carl Windsor and Pioneer Pioneer 15 3 21)666 69.0
Brand Products for providing ?.® neer 4 23.666 108.9
their weigh wagon for this f 5 \ ggj
StU(ly - Pioneer 15 4 24)333 86)5