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Texas Liquid Fertilizer

Corn 2007

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TLF Commitment to youIncrease yieldsLower CostsHelp solve

those production problems that limit profitability

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TLF Commitment to You: Corn Field Inspections:

– over 2,000 in three years

Plant Analysis: – 166 in 2006

Weather Stations; – located in El

Campo, Dayton, Holland, Bryan

DSS Acres– 41,543 acres in

three years

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TLF DSS Results in 2006

Yields ranged from 180 to 30 bushels per acre

Highest yields came from corn planted on or before March 2nd

Planting date was the most limiting factor in 2006

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TLF Weather Stations

Bell Co./ Holland: Liberty Co./ Dayton: Wharton Co./ El Campo Brazos Co./ Bryan

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Weather Stations for 2006

Each station reports 25 different readings Daily report gives 48-hr forecast

– Air tempts, wind speed, precipitation, cloud cover, leaf wetness

– 2”, 4”, 8” soil depth temperatures Daily report gives one to seven day

forecast plus 8 to 10 day outlook Use to predict planting dates, spray dates,

disease forecasts; review historical data

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Weather Stations Give Historical Info

Bryan TX DD- 50 Five- Day Forecast

020406080

100

2/ 10 2/ 17 2/ 24 3/ 3 3/ 10

2006 2005 2004 2003

Corn can be planted when forecast is more than 40 DD in the next five days; increasing not decreasing

1st available planting date in 2006

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Weather Stations Give Historical Info

2006 Corn DD- 50 Five- Day Forecast

20406080

100

2/ 10 2/ 20 3/ 2 3/ 12

ElCampoTX BryanTX

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High Tempts Hurt Corn Pollination

Four-Year Avg Daily Tempts in Texas

606570758085

4/1 4/8 4/ 15

4/ 22

4/29 5/ 6 5/1

35/ 2

05/2

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Holland Bryan Dayton El Campo

Drop-dead date for pollination

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Corn Planting Dates in 2006

2006 Corn Planting Dates & Yields f or El campo TX

80

90

100

110

120

130

2/ 122/ 1

32/ 1

42/ 1

52/ 1

62/ 1

72/ 1

82/ 1

92/ 2

02/ 2

12/ 2

22/ 2

32/ 2

42/ 2

52/ 2

62/ 2

72/ 2

8 3/ 1 3/ 2 3/ 3 3/ 4 3/ 5 3/ 6 3/ 7 3/ 8 3/ 93/ 103/ 1

13/ 1

23/ 1

32030405060708090100110

Yield Bu/ a 5-Day DD5-day DD

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High Tempts Hurt Corn Pollination

Location

Plant

Date Hybrid Traits

days to

50% silk

date of

mid-silk

Avg. daily tempt 0F HD TW

Yield Bu/a

Granger

14-Mar

Dyna-Gro

57P12RR/

YGCB 6923-May 80

31-Jul 55.7

124.3

Wharton

2-Mar

Dyna-Gro

57P12RR/

YGCB 656-

May 7210-Aug 57.3

187.4

Location

Plant

Date Hybrid Traits

days to

50% silk

date of

mid-silk

Avg. daily tempt 0F HD TW

Yield Bu/a

Granger

14-Mar

Pioneer 31G68 Bt 70

24-May 81

31-Jul 56.2

112.4

Wharton

2-Mar

Pioneer 31G68 Bt 65

7-May 71

10-Aug 57.6

169.9

Texa

s A&M

, 200

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Corn Markets for TLF

Corn North; includes Bell, Burleson, Brazos and Liberty

Corn South: Wharton About 160 miles between Holland (Bell

Co. ) and El Campo (Wharton Co.) Weather station data suggests that all

Texas non-irrigated can be grouped: corn data can be placed together for analysis.

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Climate Data for Four Years

Corn needs about 26 inches of useable water

El Campo TX rain 2003 2004 2005 2006Jan 2.0 4.6 2.5 1.9Feb 2.5 3.8 1.5 1.9March 1.8 2.2 4.8 1.7April 1.0 5.1 0.8 2.1May 0.2 8.6 4.8 4.6June 4.8 15.5 0.8 7.5July 8.0 3.9 5.4 10.9Totals 20.2 43.7 20.5 30.8

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Climate Data for Four Years

Bryan TX rain 2003 2004 2005 2006

Jan 1.04 4.15 3.53 2.48Feb 5.21 5.01 4.39 2.92March 1.93 3.15 3.09 4.37April 1.06 4.99 2.51 2.74May 1.02 6.30 3.27 4.17June 5.52 13.78 0.87 4.74July 3.14 2.08 3.64 4.29Total 18.9 39.5 21.3 25.7Corn needs about 26 inches of useable water

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Climate Data for Four Years

El Campo GDU/month 2003 2004 2005 2006Feb 192 90 251 222March 346 512 393 513April 578 546 545 702May 897 765 746 834June 927 903 934 902July 966 991 1017 910Total 3,906 3,807 3,886 4,083

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Climate Data for Four Years

Bryan TX GDU/month Base 50 2003 2004 2005 2006February 192 41 240 185March 362 512 385 515April 608 553 562 733May 903 841 798 851June 934 950 1024 893July 1042 1053 1097 928Total 4,041 3,950 4,106 4,104

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Crop Summary

Planting date was the most significant factor in 2006.

Rainfall was the second highest in the past four years

The optimum planting date was about average for three of the past four years.

The DSS data base from 2006 included 316 fields consisting of 18,287 acres.

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Corn Recommendations for 2007

FertilityHybrid SelectionSeed TreatmentsSeeding RatesTillageRow Direction

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Texas Corn Fertility

• Nitrogen• Phosphorous

• Potassium• Sulfur• Zinc• Boron

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Corn Fertility 2006 Summary

TLF DSS I rrigated GS3 Corn Plant Analysis 2006

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

N S P K Mg Ca B Zn Mn Cu

Avg Bottom Yld Avg Top Yld

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Corn Fertility 2006 Summary

TLF DSS Non-I rrigated GS3 Corn Plant Analysis 2006

40%

60%

80%100%

120%

N S P K Mg Ca B Zn Mn Cu

Avg Bottom Yld Avg Top Yld

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Corn Fertility 2006 Summary

TLF DSS I rrigated GS9 Corn Plant Analysis 2006

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

N S P K Mg Ca B Zn Mn Cu

Avg Bottom Yld Avg Top Yld

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Corn Fertility 2006 Summary

TLF DSS Non- I rrigated GS9 Corn Plant Analysis 2006

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

N S P K Mg Ca B Zn Mn Cu

Avg Bottom Yld Avg Top Yld

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Corn Fertility 2006 Summary

Boron was low early P and K were higher in the

higher yield group in the non-irrigated

Nitrogen and sulfur were higher in the higher yield group in the irrigated

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Low Boron Levels in Corn Boron is responsible for

healthy root growth . Sufficient boron levels

enables plants to become resistant to diseases of many types.

A lack of boron in a corn plant results in:– Poor kernel development.– The deterioration of root

and stem growing points.– Stunted roots. Boron deficient corn at

left; note twisting of kernels toward tip.

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Corn Fertility – Irr N Amounts

DSS

, 200

6

123

132

137

120

130

140

Bu. /

A

121 to 140 141 to 160 161 to 180

Highest yields in 2006 came from fields receiving 160 to 180 lbs. /acre N

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Corn Fertility – P Amounts

DSS

, 200

6

138134 131

121

100

110

120

130

140

150

71 to 80 61 to 70 31 to 40 11 to 20

Highest yields in 2006 came from fields receiving 71 to 80 lbs. /acre P;

Bu.

/acr

e

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Phosphates and Nitrogen in 2006

In 2006, an additional investment in P increases corn net profits by $50 per acre.

Increasing P or N fertilizer never leveled corn yields out

In TAMU corn hybrid plots in 2006, 130 lbs. /acre P plus 240 lbs. N averaged 194 bu. /acre irrigated corn in hybrid plots

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Corn Fertility- Potash Potassium is

critical:– For the plant health

11 to 20 lbs. /acre of sulfur increased yields by 9 bu. /A in DSS data.

The potash fertilizer produced an additional net profit of $28/ acre.

136

127

120

124

128

132

136

140

11 to 20lbs. A

None

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Corn Fertility- Sulfur

Sulfur is critical:– For the plant to

utilize nitrogen 5 to 10 lbs. /acre

of sulfur increased yields by 13 bu. /A in 2006 DSS data.

131

118

110

115

120

125

130

135

140

10 lbs. /A None

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Fertility Program for CornNon-irrigated

– 160-180 lbs. /A Nitrogen

– 40 lbs. /A Phosphate– 10 lbs. /A Potash– 5 to 10 lbs. /A sulfur – 2.5 to 5 lbs. /A of

zinc– .5 to 1.5 lbs. /A

boron

Irrigated– 200 to 240 lbs. /A

Nitrogen– 80 lbs. /A Phosphate– 20 lbs. /A Potash– 10 to 20 lbs. /A sulfur – 2.5 to 5 lbs. /A of

zinc– .5 to 1.5 lbs. /A

boron

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Corn Cultural Practices

Hybrid SelectionSeed TreatmentsSeeding RatesPlanting SpeedPlanting DepthAflatoxin Mgt.

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Hybrid Selection

2006 DSS Non-Irrigated Hybrids traits

Bu./ A

Pioneer 31G96

RR HX LL 125

Pioneer 31G65

RR HX LL 114

Golden Acres 2841 RR Bt 114

2006 DSS Irrigated Hybrids traits

Bu./ A

Garst 8225 RR 169

Garst 8377 RR Bt 154Dyna-Gro 58K40 RR 142Dyna-Gro 58K22 RR 139

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Seed Treatments on Corn Results from DSS in

2006 Cruiser® produced

19 more bu. /acre corn in 2006 than the Poncho 250.

Cruiser® contains Dynasty® fungicide which should be more available in 2007.

148

129120

130

140

150

160

Cruiser Poncho 250

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Corn Planting Rates

Hybrid Planting Populations 2006

Irrigated (North) 28,500 Irrigated (South) 26,000Non-irrigated

South 21,000

North 26,000

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Planter Calibration

Researchers claim a 10 to 15% reduction in yields by using poorly calibrated planters.

Results showed an increase of up to 23 bushels per acre

Uneven seed depth lowers yields by 5%

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Planting Depth Affects Yields

•Shallow planting lowered yields by 11 bushels in 2001.•Plant corn between 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.

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Planting Depth Affects Yields

•Shallow planting caused less roots which caused a N deficiency. •The plant on the right is still green. •Shallow planting inhibits root development. •Less roots means less available plant food.

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Effect of Planting Speed

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Summary of Corn Practices

Planting date was the most limiting factor in 2006; planting after March 2 lowered yields 63 bu/acre

Fertilize with N&P according to your yield goals

Order Dynasty® or Trilex® as seed fungicide treatment

Watch planter speed and depth

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TLF Commitment to you

Increase yieldsLower CostsHelp solve those production

problems that limit profitability