ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff LANDISVILLE (Lancaster Co.) Narrow-row com can show improved yield perfor mance in some silage and grain studies conducted recently over two years here at the Penn State Southeast Research and Exten sion Center. In late August a field day to look at two projects, one involving narrow-row com and another Bt com, provided some interesting findings. According to Greg Roth, Penn State com specialist and a project coordinator, there is a complex relationship between narrow rows and the selection of the correct hybrid and plant ing date. In their 1997 study, Penn State researchers found that responses to narrow-row (15-inch row spacing) com were improved when using an upright leafed hybrid, with a high plant population and a later planting date. According to Roth, in 15-inch rows, the upright leaf captures more of the normally “wasted” sunlight that falls between conventional, 30-inch rows. Also, com planted early in 1997 and again this year showed some moisture stress and some drought effects, and BRINGING TECHNOLOGY NC ,ai 9s Performance pacesetter in a wide range of 100-day environments. NC+ 3448 New 107 Days The new pacesetter in the 105-107 maturity zone NC+4646 111 Days Defensive yield performer for higher-stress environments. Call District Sales Manager Harvey Doyle at 724-459-8580 or see one of these NC+ Dealers. AARONSBURG MICHAEL SPEICHER CANTON ED PEPPER *717-364-5242 ELLIOTSBURG WAYNE FREEMAN • 717-582-2397 HALIFAX BETHTEL FARMS, KENNETH BECHTEL* 717-896-8314 KINTNERSVILLE WAYNE LITZENBERGER •610-847-5563 Narrow-Row Corn Studies Focus On Hybrid Type, Planting Date selecting a hybrid to control that type of stress could do a lot to improve yields. The researchers noted that these studies have been consis tent over two years, but many factors, including the weather, would affect the results for dif ferent growers. Roth indicated there were four planting dates comparing the conventional 30-inch rows to the narrow-row com: April 29, May 18, June 1, and June 18 this year. Each was planted to approximately 32,000 seeds per acre. The seed spacing was approximately 12 inches apart on the IS-inch rows and about 6 inches on the 30-inch rows. In 1997, two com hybrids, an upright leafed and a normal leafed hybrid, were planted in 15- or 30-inch rows either at 27,000 or 32,000 plants per acre on similar dates: April 29, May 14, May 29, and June 16. Each plot was replicated four times. Silage yields were sampled when the crop reached approxi mately 40 percent dry matter. In general, the results showed there was a slight yield advantage to the later hybrid. There was a trend for slightly higher silage yields with the higher plant population and for Your NC+ Dealer has the genetically superior hybrids and varieties that will yield for you. KUNKLETOWN JEFFREY BOR6ER • 610-381-3785 LEBANON CLARENCE MULL • 717-865-2037 LEWISBURG AARON MARTIN • 717-524-2952 UTITZ ELVIN HURSH • 717-733-3538 MANCHESTER ANIMAL MEDIC *717-266-5611 narrow rows. The effect of planting date was also significant. Yields were reduced with delayed planting compared to the April planting date. (Turn to P«g« 22) Down to Earth According to Greg Roth, Penn State corn specialist and a project coordina tor, left, there Is a complex relationship between narrow rows, hybrid, and planting date. At right is project co-coordinator Bob Anderson, Lancaster crops agent MANHEIM ARTHUR AUKER • 717-665-6627 RICHFIELD SAMUEL KNOUSE • 717-463-2885 SALEM DONALD EMEL • 609-769-1577 THOMPSONTOWN ROGER SANER • 717-535-5307 WYALUSING ANDY CAMPBELL • 717-363-2133 Corn Talk, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 10, 1998—Page (D®3E)M 'fAILI MlW§ I % PENNSYLVANIA MASTER CORN GROWERS ASSOC., INC. Number one yield performer in the 109-113 day range. NC+ 5445 114 Days The proven leader in 114 day yield and agronomics. NC+5697 114 Days Top-end yield potential and solid early growth. America’s down to earth seed company NC+ 4880 112 Days <s> 65
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