Objective:

To evaluate the effect of planting date and days to maturity rating on silage production and grain yield and quality

Summary:      

Two corn varieties, P8034R (80 days) and H2512 (75 days) were sown on three planting dates (April 25, May 6, and May 23).  Table 1 shows detailed agronomic and management information. Silage and grain yields were recorded.  

Overall, yield loss was observed with later planting dates (Table 2). Although caution should be noted when planting early. There is a chance of lowered soil temperature in the last week of April (Figure 1).

The production challenge observed was predatory birds. The negative grain yield impact due to birds is related to planting date and corn maturity (Figure 2). The later-planted and the 80-day corn is more prone to grain yield loss due to predatory birds than the earlier-planted and the 75-day corn (Table 2).  Also, yield reduction due to predatory birds on 80-day corn is greater than the 75-day corn (Table 3).

The takeaways, from only one year of data, are: 1) yield reduction with delayed planting (3rd week of May, see also economic loss in Figure 3), 2) higher yield potential with 80-day corn than 75-day, but the 80-day is prone to wildlife feeding and also delayed harvest, 3) planting date had no negative impact if corn is planted only for silage, and 4) the 80-day corn performed better as silage.

Table 1. Management information

Seeding date: 4/25, 5/6, 5/23 Field Location: X1
Julian date: 114/126/143 Harvest date: Silage: 9/18
      Grain: 12/9
Seeding rate: 28,000 plants/A Julian date: 261/343
Previous crop: Peas Soil type: Silt loam
Herbicide: Stinger: 6/5 Tillage: Conventional
  Round-up PowerMax: 6/10    
Insecticide: None Soil residual nutrient  
    (NO3-1, P, K lb/A): 144-10-250
Fungicide: None Nutrient fertilizer applied  
    (N, P2O5, K20 lb/A): 150-50-20
 

 

Table 2. Influence of planting date on grain yield. Same letter assignment denotes no statistical difference (P = 0.05).The influence of corn planting date on grain yield. Same letter assignment denotes no statistical difference.

 

Table 3. Influence of relative maturity on grain yield and silage. Same letter assignment denotes no statistical difference (P = 0.05).

Table 3. The influence of relative maturity on grain yield and silage. The same letters denote no statistical difference at p=0.05

 

 

 

Figure 1. A line graph showing the trend of soil and air temperatures in relationship to corn planting dates and emergence dates.

Figure 1. Trend of soil and air temperatures with the corn planting dates and their corresponding day of emergence.

 

Figure 2. A bar graph showing the percent of corn kernel damage from birds as rated with visual scoring.

Figure 2. Percent damage from predatory birds with planting dates and relative maturity of corn. Same letter assignment denotes no statistical difference (P = 0.05).

 

 

Figure 3. A bar graph showing the gross income from corn grain based on planting date and relative maturity rating.

Figure 3. Grain gross adjusted income with planting dates and relative maturity of corn. Same letter assignment denotes no statistical difference (P = 0.05).