8-Corn Talk, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 19,2002
2001 Pa. Commercial Hybrid Test Reports
How to Use This Report
Tins report provides independent and unbiased information for
the evaluation of commercial com hybrids available in Pennsyl
vania It should be used to supplement odier sources of
information, such as seed industry performance tests, other
independent testing data, and on-farm performance records
when making hybrid selection decisions.
The first factor to consider when using this report is hybrid
maturity. The hybrids listed in Tables 1 and 3 are ranked in
ascending order by gram moisture with the earliest hybrids
(lowest gram moisture) at the top Silage hybrids (Table 4) are
ranked by whole-plant moisture at the time of harvest. In Table
2, hybrids are listed alphabetically. Gram or silage moisture is a
good indicator of hybrid maturity; those with lower moisture
are generally adapted to shorter season environments. Identify
hybrids m the list that you know are adapted to your area, and
then evaluate new hybrids that have similar moisture contents.
Selecting hybrids based on yield alone may result m a hybrid
that is too late for your farm. Note that there is considerable
range among maturity m hybrids entered in each zone. Once
you have identified the appropriate hybrid maturity range,
compare the yields of the hybrids that have been evaluated.
Yield performance is variable across locations and is best
predicted by using data averaged over multiple locations, so the
mean yield over all sites is the best guide to hybrid perfor
mance. Individual location hybrid means (Table 2) can help to
assess how consistent, or stable, the hybrid was across loca
tions. For example, some hybrids may do well at high-yielding
sites but may not do well at low-yielding sites. We DO NOT
recommend using data from a single site, even if it is close to
your farm, to make hybrid selection choices.
Once you have identified some prospective hybrids,
consider then standabdity from the erect plants column as well
as any disease-rating data that may have been collected. It also
is important to check with a seed company representative about
other characteristics of the hybrid that may be important for
your operation
Once you have gone dirough this process, you should be
able to select hybrids that have above-average performance.
This is an important part of profitable com production, since, as
these reports demonstrate, there is a wide range in the perfor
mance of com hybrids.
Further, we recommend that you evaluate selected hybrids
on your farm under your growing conditions and practices. This
is (he best way to make a final determination of the proper
hybrids lor your operation.
Tests of commercially available com hybrids are conducted
annually at several locations in each of the four maturity zones in
Pennsylvania to provide farmers, seed producers, cooperative
extension agents, and other interested persons with information
about hybrid performance This report includes both the gram
and silage results from the 2001 season
Table 1 contains the combined results for all locations
harvested in this zone Table 2 contains the yield data generated
at each location. We believe that the statewide performance
averages found in Table 1 are most important to consider when
making a final decision about variety capabilities, since they
represent a wide variety of growing, soil, and management
conditions A two-year summary of results for hybrids tested in
both 2000 and 2001 growing seasons is given m Table 3 The
results for hybrids entered in the silage performance test are
reported in Table 4
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Procedures
This testing program was available to any producer of hybrid
seed com. For the gram tests, hybrids were planted m paired-row
plots equal to 1/500 of an acre. Planting was done with a vacuum
precision planter, which minimized the number of plants needed
to be removed to obtain a final population of 26,000 plants per
acre. The planter was set to drop 30 kernels per row. When the
com was 12 to 18 inches tall, extra plants, primarily doubles and
end-plants, were removed to reach to final population. For silage
plots, hybrids were planted, as above, in single-row plots equal to
1/1000 acre. A final population of 28,000 plants per acre was
obtained by dropping 32 kernels per row and removing extra
plants as previously described. All grain entries were replicated
three times in each test while silage entries were replicated four
times. Cooperators and planting and harvesting dates are shown
in Table 5.
Gram-test plots were harvested with a self-propelled
combine equipped with electronic instrumentation for determin
ing weight, moisture, and bushel weight (sometimes called test
weight). Silage plots were harvested with a forage harvester.
Gram yields are reported as bushels per acre, while grain
moisture and erect plants are reported as percentages. Bushel
weight is reported as pounds per bushel. Shelled grain yields
were standardized at 15.5 percent grain moisture. Silage results
are reported as actual field yield in tons per acre, calculated on
the basis of 65 percent moisture, tons of dry matter per acre, and
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moisture content at harvest. Disease ratings were based on a scale
of 6.5 to 5.0, progressing from little or no disease to premature
death.
Growing conditions
Planting at all locations in this zone was completed on May IS.
Planting conditions were excellent at all locations. Moisture and
temperature stresses occurred at most locations with the Clarion
County site most severely affected. The dry conditions that
occurred following planting resulted in delayed germination and
poor plant growth early in the season. This led to a late-maturing
crop that was, in all likelihood, killed by frost before maturity. At
the time of harvest, average grain moisture was 5-9% higher than
at other locations, and yield was 55 bushels per acre less than the
average of the four other locations that were harvested. Conse
quently, the data from Clarion County are not reported here. The
plot in Crawford County was severely damaged by geese and not
harvested. As an aid to interpreting the data, we are providing
growing degree days (ODD) from the date of planting to the date
of harvest or through October 8, whichever occurred first. The
'data in Table 5 show that there were 123-154 more growing
degree days for the grain tests in 2001 compared to the 30-year
average.
Diseases, insects, and other pests
Hybrids grown at the Centre County location were inoculated
with the fungus causing northern leaf blight (NLB). Although
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