Tuesday, 8 November 2005 - 3:30 PM
147-9

Solar Corridor Floor Crop Experiments.

Charles Deichman, Maize Research Unlimited, 501 N. Washington, Shelbyville, MO 63469

The solar corridor idea has been utilized to increase corn yields. A solar corridor is created between every row of 60 - 78 inch wide (twin) corn rows. This paper will give information gained from our experience from the crops (including peas, soybeans, alfalfa, wheat and clover)grown (centered, over the missing corn row) on the floor of the solar corridor. It was hypothesized that, with sufficient investigative inquiry, we could find crops that would produce well on the solar corridor floor. At this point we don't have scientific multi-year yield data on any of the floor crops but would like to share our observations, experience and the non randomized data we do have with particular emphasis on the interdisciplinary implications involved. This paper will focus on one of those studies with peas on the solar corridor floor. Data to date indicates positive results with wheat and clover on the floor between the wide corn rows. The extensive research called for to realize full benefit from this idea will be addressed. Like we've documented the corn yields, to be hybrid specific, are the floor crops also, cultivar specific? What existing crop production parameters and assumptions need to be changed?While our studies have used state of the art conventional supporting practices in the control and treatment we've identified specific differential preferred thresholds for the solar corridor. But the solar corridor results supported by the practices developed for the solar corridor can only be hypothesized at this time. A totally integrated ,interdisciplinary, site specific crop system to maximize the production of our photosynthate production capacity is one(but not limited to)goals of the solar corridor crop production system.

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