Tuesday, November 6, 2007
142-2
Optimum Plant Populations for Mid-South Corn Production.
Jason Kelley, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas, 2301 South University, Little Rock, AR 72203, Steven Sheets, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Univ. of Arkansas-Cooperative Ext., PO Box 391, Little Rock, AR 72203, Scott Hayes, Southeast Research and Extension Center, University of Arkansas, 140 Experiment Station Loop, P.O. Box 155, Rohwer, AR 71666, and Mike Duren, Northeast Research and Extension Center, University of Arkansas, 1241 West City Road 780, P.O. Box 48, Keiser, AR 72351.
Field trials were conducted over three years evaluating the optimum plant population for mid-south field corn. Trials were located at the Northeast Research and Extension Center near Keiser and the Southeast Research and Extension Center near Rohwer. Plant populations evaluated included 15,000, 20,000, 25,000, 30,000, 35,000, and 40,000 plants/acre. At both locations corn was planted on 38 inch wide rows and was furrow irrigated as needed. At maturity, the two center rows of 4 row wide plots were harvested with a small plot combine and grain yields adjusted to 15.5% moisture. Yields in most instances peaked near 30,000 plants/acre.