Seven Wonders of The Corn Growing World - naicc.org meeting 2014/Track I/Seven Wonde… · Seven...

Seven Wonders of The

Corn Growing World

Fred Below

Crop Physiology Laboratory

Department of Crop Sciences

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

NAICC 2014 Annual Meeting & Ag Expo, New Orleans, LA January 30, 2014

Quest for 300 Bushel Corn

•9 billion people by 2050

requires a doubling of grain

production including corn

•300 bu corn produced each

year in the U.S. National

Corn Growers Contest

Quest for 300 Bushel Corn

•Intelligent Intensification

with the Seven Wonders of

the Corn Yield World

•What are the factors that

have the biggest impact on

corn yield each year?

Seven Wonders of the Corn

Yield World

•Ranks those factors that each

year can have a positive (and

sometimes negative) impact

on corn yield

•Gives each factor an average

bushel per acre value

Crucial Prerequisites, but not

Yield Wonders

•Drainage

•Pest/Weed Control

•Proper soil pH & adequate

levels of P and K based on

soil tests

70+ Weather

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

bu/acre

Value Factor Rank

Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World

Given key prerequisites

Excess Precipitation Delayed Planting in 2013

Extreme Drought in Illinois in 2012

70 Nitrogen

70+ Weather

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

bu/acre

Value Factor Rank



Fertilizer N rate (lb acre-1)

Gra

in y

ield

(b

u a

cre

-1)

Weather and Nitrogen

0 50 100 150 200

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

2009

2008

Same site – DeKalb, IL

Weather and Nitrogen

0 50 100 150 200 250

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

2005

2006


Gra

in y

ield

(b

u a

cre

-1)

Same site – Champaign, IL

50 Hybrid

70 Nitrogen

70+ Weather

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

bu/acre

Value Factor Rank



Biotechnology Traits for Insect Control

Western Corn Rootworm

(Diabrotica virgifera)

http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/elements/view.aspx?ID=1929

0 50 100 150 200 250

120

150

180

210

240

Single

Double

Triple

Better N Use From Biotechnology Traits


Gra

in y

ield

(b

u a

cre

-1)

Champaign, IL 2006

Crop Sci. 53:585-594 (2013)

50 Hybrid

70 Nitrogen

70+ Weather

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

bu/acre

Value Factor Rank



Rank Yield Rank Yield Rank Yield Rank Yield

bu acre-1 bu acre-1 bu acre-1 bu acre-1

1 216.3 17 193.3 33 180.8 49 163.9

2 211.1 18 193.0 34 179.3 50 163.7

3 210.6 19 192.4 35 179.0 51 163.5

4 210.4 20 192.3 36 178.0 52 163.0

5 208.1 21 192.1 37 176.0 53 162.3

6 206.6 22 191.5 38 174.2 54 162.3

7 203.1 23 190.3 39 174.1 55 160.3

8 202.5 24 188.4 40 173.4 56 156.6

9 202.0 25 188.1 41 172.8 57 153.8

10 201.2 26 187.1 42 172.5 58 153.4

11 200.5 27 186.5 43 172.1 59 153.2

12 199.3 28 186.5 44 169.2 60 153.0

13 194.5 29 185.1 45 167.9 61 151.1

14 194.2 30 184.9 46 167.6 62 135.6

15 194.2 31 184.3 47 165.8 63 132.6

16 194.1 32 181.6 48 165.2 64 129.1

All Hybrids are Not Created Equal -2012

32,000 plants/acre with 240 lbs N at Champaign, IL in 2012 LSD (0.10) = 32.5

25 Previous Crop

50 Hybrid

70 Nitrogen

70+ Weather

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

bu/acre

Value Factor Rank



20 Plant Population

25 Previous Crop

50 Hybrid

70 Nitrogen

70+ Weather

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

bu/acre

Value Factor Rank



How have corn yields increased?

Year

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Gra

in y

ield

(b

u a

cre

-1)

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Pla

nt

den

sit

y (

ac

re-1

)

16000

18000

20000

22000

24000

26000

28000

30000

32000U.S. plant densityU.S. average grain yield

Source USDA

Grain Yield is a Product Function

of Yield Components

Yield = (plants/acre) x

(kernels/plant) x

(weight/kernel)

Some Examples of Yield Component

Combinations for Different Yields

200 bushels =

32,000 plants/ac x 550 kernels/plant x 250 mg/kernel

250 bushels =


300 bushels? =


Kernel weight expressed at 0% and yield at 15% moisture

Are Twin Rows a way to increase

Plant Population?

Champaign, 2009

30 inch rows vs twin rows both at 45,000 plants/acre

Water Funneling in Twin Rows

7.5 inch twin rows on 30 inch centers, 45,000 plants/acre

Twin Rows are Warmer

30” Rows (76 cm) Twin Rows

Champaign, IL August 20, 2011, 45,000 plants/acre

Lower canopy thermal images

Twin Rows Lose Lower Leaves

Lower canopy images

30” Rows (76 cm) Twin Rows

Champaign, IL August 26, 2011, 45,000 plants/acre

15 Tillage

20 Plant Population

25 Previous Crop

50 Hybrid

70 Nitrogen

70+ Weather

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

bu/acre

Value Factor Rank



10 Growth Regulators

15 Tillage

20 Plant Population

25 Previous Crop

50 Hybrid

70 Nitrogen

70+ Weather

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

bu/acre

Value Factor Rank



Leaf Greening from Strobilurin Fungicides

Leaves greener 50 days after VT application

10 Growth Regulators

15 Tillage

20 Plant Population

25 Previous Crop

50 Hybrid

70 Nitrogen

70+ Weather

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

bu/acre

Value Factor Rank


260 bu TOTAL Given key prerequisites

How to Get High Corn Yields?

• Optimize each of the seven

wonders and their positive

interactions.

• Provide better prerequisites,

season long weed control &

balanced fertility/nutrition

Prerequisites for High Yields?

• Proper soil pH & adequate

levels of P and K based on

soil tests

• Fertility- Use application

and fertilizer technologies

to supply required crop

nutrition

Nutrition Needed for 230 Bushel Corn

Nutrient Required

to Produce

Removed

with Grain

Harvest

Index

lbs/acre %

N 256 148 58

P2O5 101 80 79

K2O 180 58 32

S 23 13 57

Zn (oz) 7.1 4.4 62

B (oz) 1.2 0.3 23

Average of 6 hybrids in Champaign and DeKalb IL in 2010. Agron. J. 105:161-170 (2013)

B U

pta

ke (

oz

B a

c-1

)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

GDDF

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Perc

en

t o

f T

ota

l (%

)

0

25

50

75

100

Grain

Tassel, Cob, Husk Leaves

Stalk and Leaf Sheaths

Leaf Blades

V6 V10 V14 R2 R4 R6VE V4V2 VT/R1 R5

Growth Stage

Bo Uptake & Partitioning for 230 Bushel Corn

Average of 6 hybrids in Champaign and DeKalb IL in 2010

Agron. J. 105:161-170 (2013)

Nutrition Needed for 230 Bushel Corn

Nutrient Required

to Produce

Removed

with Grain

Harvest

Index

lbs/acre %

N 256 148 58

P2O5 101 80 79

K2O 180 58 32

S 23 13 57

Zn (oz) 7.1 4.4 62

B (oz) 1.2 0.3 23

Average of 6 hybrids in Champaign and DeKalb IL in 2010. Agron. J. 105:161-170 (2013)

N Uptake & Partitioning for 230 Bushel Corn

Growth Stage

Nit

rog

en

Up

take (

lb N

ac

-1)

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

225

250

GDDF

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Perc

en

t (%

) o

f T

ota

l N

itro

gen

0

25

50

75

100Grain



Leaf Blades

E V3 V6 V9 V14 V18 R1 R3 R5 R6


Agron. J. 105:161-170 (2013)

P Uptake & Partitioning for 230 Bushel Corn

Growth Stage

Ph

osp

ho

rus U

pta

ke (

lb P

2O

5 a

c-1

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

GDDF

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Perc

en

t (%

) o

f T

ota

l P

ho

sp

ho

rus

0

25

50

75

100

Grain



Leaf Blades

E V3 V6 V9 V14 V18 R1 R3 R5 R6


Agron. J. 105:161-170 (2013)

Zn Uptake & Partitioning for 230 Bushel Corn

Growth Stage

Zin

c U

pta

ke (

oz

Zn

ac

-1)

0.0

0.8

1.6

2.4

3.2

4.0

4.8

5.6

6.4

7.2

GDDF

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Perc

en

t (%

) o

f T

ota

l Z

inc

0

25

50

75

100

Grain



Leaf Blades

E V3 V6 V9 V14 V18 R1 R3 R5 R6


Agron. J. 105:161-170 (2013)

Feed the Plant Not the Soil

Better Fertilizer

• 250 lbs/acre MicroEssentials-SZ

35 lbs N, 100 lbs P2O5, 25 lbs S, 2.5 lbs Zn

Better Application

• Banded 4 to 6 inches deep

directly under the crop row

Improved Growth with Spring Banded MESZ

250 lbs/acre MicroEssentials = 35 N, 100 P2O5, 25 S, and 2.5 Zn

Champaign, IL 2011

No Corn Plant Left Behind

Champaign, IL 2011

Standard Technology

Fall broadcast, 32K plants

High Technology

Banded fertility, 45K plants

Standard vs High Tech Package 2009-11

Fertility None, or fall P or K based on soil test

Balanced Crop Nutrition (N, P, S, & Zn) with

premium fertilizer (MESZ) and/or banding

Nitrogen 180 lbs pre-plant as UAN or urea

Extra N (60+ lbs) as sidedress and weather

protection (urease and/or nitrification)

Genetics Refuge and/or Workhorse Hybrid

Triple stack and/or Racehorse Hybrid

Population 32,000 plants/ac vs 45,000 plants/ac

Fungicide No Fungicide

Headline-Amp or Quilt-Xcel @ R1

High Tech Package vs Traditional 2009-11

High Technology Package Standard Practice

Ears from

1/1000 of an

acre

Year Standard High

Tech D

bu acre-1

2009 198 260 +62*

2010 188 230 +42*

2011 169 195 +26*

Average 185 228 +43*

Corn Yield Response to Management

*Significantly different at P ≤ 0.05.

Average of 2 trials in 2009, 2 trials in 2010, and 11 trials in 2011

Standard vs High Tech Package 2009-11



premium fertilizer (MESZ) and/or banding


Extra N (60 lbs) as sidedress and weather


Genetics Refuge and/or Workhorse Hybrid

Triple stack and/or Racehorse Hybrid


Fungicide No Fungicide

Headline-Amp or Quilt-Xcel @ R1

FACTORS

TREATMENT Fertility Nitrogen Genetics Population Fungicide

HIGH TECH MESZ Base +

sidedress

Triple stack/

Racehorse 45,000 Strobilurin

Rem

ove

Tech

no

log

y

Fertility Soil test Base +

sidedress Triple/Racehorse 45,000 Strobilurin

Nitrogen MESZ Base Triple/Racehorse 45,000 Strobilurin

Genetics MESZ Base +

sidedress Refuge/workhorse 45,000 Strobilurin

Population MESZ Base +

sidedress Triple/Racehorse 32,000 Strobilurin

Fungicide MESZ Base +

sidedress Triple/Racehorse 45,000 none

STANDARD Soil test Base Refuge/

Workhorse 32,000 none

Ad

d T

ech

no

log

y Fertility MESZ Base Refuge/workhorse 32,000 none

Nitrogen Soil test Base +

Sidedress Refuge/workhorse 32,000 none

Genetics Soil test Base Triple/Racehorse 32,000 none

Population Soil test Base Refuge/workhorse 45,000 none

Fungicide Soil test Base Refuge/workhorse 32,000 Strobilurin

Omission Plot Experimental Design

Standard

System

Add One Enhanced Factor Yield D

bu acre-1

Standard Management 185

+Fertility (extra P, S, Zn and/or banding) 192 + 7*

+Nitrogen (+60 sidedress/ loss protected) 194 + 9*

+Genetics (triple stack/racehorse hybrid) 192 + 7*

+Population (45,000 plants/acre) 178 - 7*

+Fungicide (strobilurin at flowering) 190 + 5

Add One Enhanced Factor to Standard Management

*Significantly different at P ≤ 0.05 Average of 2 trials in 2009, 2 trials in

2010, and 11 trials in 2011

High Tech System

Omit One Enhanced Factor Yield D

bu acre-1

High Tech all Five Factors 228

-Fertility (fertility from soil test) 217 -11*

-Nitrogen (unprotected from loss) 216 -12*

-Genetics (refuge/workhorse hybrid) 212 -16*

-Population (only 32,000 plants/acre) 221 - 7*

-Fungicide (no fungicide) 207 -21*

Omit One Enhanced Factor from High Tech System

*Significantly different at P ≤ 0.05 Average of 2 trials in 2009, 2 trials in

2010, and 11 trials in 2011

Traditional High Tech

Factor Yield D Yield D

bu acre-1

None or All 185 228

Fertility 192 + 7 217 -11

Nitrogen 194 + 9 216 -12

Genetics 192 + 7 212 -16

Population 178 - 7 221 - 7

Fungicide 190 + 5 207 -21

Standard vs High-Tech Management

Average of 2 trials in 2009, 2 trials in 2010, and 11 trials in 2011

Year Factor Standard High

Tech

D bushels acre-1

2009 Genetics (rootworm trait)

+9 -25

2010 Fungicide +11 -35

2011 Fertility +14 -17

Management Factor with Greatest Response

Extreme Drought in Illinois in 2012

Year Factor Standard High

Tech

D bushels acre-1

2009 Genetics (rootworm trait)

+9 -25

2010 Fungicide +11 -35

2011 Fertility +14 -17

2012 Irrigation +55 -93

Management Factor with Greatest Response

Standard vs High Tech Package 2013



premium fertilizer (MESZ) and banding


Extra N (60+ lbs) as sidedress and weather



Fungicide No Fungicide Headline-Amp or Quilt-Xcel @ R1

Row Space 30 inch row spacing

20 inch row spacing

Standard

System

Add One Enhanced Factor Yield D

bu acre-1

Standard Management 196

+Fertility (extra N, P, S, Zn and/or banding) 204 + 8*

+Nitrogen (plus sidedress/ loss protected) 201 + 5

+Population (45,000 plants/acre) 197 + 1

+Fungicide (strobilurin at flowering) 196 0

+Row Spacing (20 inch rows ) 200 + 4

Add One Enhanced Factor to Standard Management

*Significantly different from standard P ≤ 0.05, Average of 3 trials in 2013

High Tech System

Omit One Enhanced Factor Yield D

bu acre-1

High Tech all Five Factors 231

-Fertility (fertility from soil test) 223 - 8*

-Nitrogen (unprotected from loss) 227 - 4

-Population (only 32,000 plants/acre) 218 -13*

-Fungicide (no fungicide) 227 - 4

-Row Spacing (30 inch rows) 217 -14*

Omit One Enhanced Factor from High Tech System

*Significantly different from high tech P ≤ 0.05, Average of 3 trials in 2013

Standard High Tech

Factor Yield D Yield D

bu acre-1

None or All 196 231

Fertility 204 +8* 223 - 8*

Nitrogen 201 +5 227 - 4

Population 197 +1 218 -13*

Fungicide 196 0 227 - 4

Row Space 200 +4 217 -14*

Standard vs High-Tech Management

*Significantly different from standard or high tech P ≤ 0.05

Average of 3 trials in 2013

Conclusions • For maximum yield a systems

approach is needed that combines individual practices known to impact productivity

• High yield must be planned for from the beginning because the factor or factors which drive increased yield depends on that season’s weather

Conclusions

• Increasing plant population may be the foundation for pushing higher corn yields, but higher populations must be managed with narrower row spacing, the proper hybrid, fed with the right balance of nutrients and protected from biotic and abiotic stresses

Acknowledgements

•Brad Bandy

•Tryston Beyrer

•Tom Boas

•Ryan Becker

•Ross Bender

•Fernando Cantao

•Paula Cler

•Keila Cunha

•Paulo Galvao

•Laura Gentry

•Claire Geiger

•Jason Haegele

•Mark Harrison

•Cole Hendrix

•Adam Henninger

•Jim Kleiss

•Brandon Litherland

•Jack Marshall

•Bianca Moura

•Ellie Raup

•Matías Ruffo

•Juliann Seebauer

•Marjorie Souza

•Logan Smith

•Martín Uribelarrea

•Mike Vincent

•Alison Vogel

•Kyle Vogelzang

•Wendy White

Personnel

Champaign

Harrisburg

Crop Physiology Lab Sites

& Farm Cooperators

DeKalb - Eric Lawler

H.B. Babson Farms

Rushville - Mike Dyche Jr.

Dyche Farms Inc

Champaign – UI Research Farm

Harrisburg - Scott Berry

Berry Farms

Rushville

DeKalb

Acknowledgements

•AGCO

•Agricen

•Agrium

•AgroFresh

•BASF

•Calmer Corn Heads

•Crop Production Services

•Dawn Equipment

•Dow AgroSciences

•DuPont/Pioneer

•Fluid Fertilizer Foundation

•GrowMark

•Honeywell

•Helena Chemical Company

•Illinois Corn Marketing Board

•Illinois Soybean Association

•IPNI

•John Deere

•Koch Agronomic Service

•Monsanto

•Mosaic

•Nachurs

•Netafilm

•Orthman

•Rosen’s Inc.

•Syngenta

•Stoller Enterprises

•Valent BioSciences

•WinField Solutions

•Wolf Trax

•Wyffels Hybrids

Financial Support

Very Special Thanks

• Clark Poppert

• NAICC

For more information:

Crop Physiology Laboratory at the

University of Illinois

http://cropphysiology.cropsci.illinois.edu

Seven Wonders of The Corn Growing World - naicc.org meeting 2014/Track I/Seven Wonde… · Seven...

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