Agronomic Management Strategies to Reduce the Yield Loss Associated with Spring Harvested Corn in Ontario

Kris J. Mahoney^1*, Jonathan H. Klapwyk², Greg A. Stewart³, W. Scott Jay¹, David C. Hooker¹

¹University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, Canada.
²Independent Author, Elora, Canada.
³Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Guelph, Canada.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2015.62043                

Abstract

Some growers in northern corn (Zea mays L.) producing regions forgo the typical autumn harvest for various reasons, but not without the risk of significant yield loss. Therefore, strategies are needed for managing the risks to yield when harvesting corn in spring. Field experiments, with various management strategies, were initiated in Ontario, Canada near Belmont and Ridgetown in 2009 and near Belmont, Ridgetown, and Lucan in 2010. Management strategies investigated the use of hybrids with a range in maturity, the use of standard and reduced plant populations, and the use of a foliar fungicide applied around tasseling. The parameters examined were stay-green in autumn, lodging in spring, and grain yield, moisture, and test weight of corn harvested in autumn and spring. Standard corn production practices consist of using a full-season hybrid planted at 80,000 plants·ha^-1 with no late-season fungicide application; however, if over-wintered at Belmont, corn managed using these practices resulted in a 23.1% yield loss (12.1 vs 9.3 Mg·ha^-1) averaged across years when the crop was harvested in the spring. An overwintering management strategy for corn was identified, which consisted of planting at a reduced plant population (60,000 plants·ha^-1) and spraying the crop with QUILT^® (azoxystrobin + propiconazole at 200 g a.i. ha^-1) at the VT to R1 growth stage. Averaged across all hybrids, this strategy minimized yield losses through improvements on corn standability with only a 3.5% yield loss at Ridgetown and a 13.2% yield loss at Belmont. Furthermore, grain test weights for corn with the overwintering strategy were similar to or greater than corn overwintered with the standard production practice. However, weather conditions have the potential to overwhelm any management strategy. In spite of the favorable data indicating reduced risks with a spring harvest, lodging was still higher than expected and yield losses would likely be unacceptable for most growers to make a spring corn harvest a widely accepted practice, unless autumn grain moistures are extremely high, drying charges are high, and if stalk strength going into the winter was exceptional.

Keywords

Fungicide, Hybrid, Plant Population, Lodging, Stay-Green, Yield

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Roekel, R.J. and Coulter, J.A. (2012) Agronomic Responses of Corn Hybrid to Row Width and Plant Density. Agronomy Journal, 104, 612-620. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2011.0380
[2]	Capristo, P.R., Rizzalli, R.H. and Andrade, F.H. (2007) Ecophysiological Yield Components of Maize Hybrids with Contrasting Maturity. Agronomy Journal, 99, 1111-1118. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2006.0360
[3]	Farnham, D.E. (2001) Row Spacing, Plant Density, and Hybrid Effects on Corn Grain Yield and Moisture. Agronomy Journal, 93, 1049-1053. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2001.9351049x
[4]	Lauer, J.G., Carter, P.R., Wood, T.M., Diezel, G., Wiersma, D.W., Rand, R.E. and Mlynarek, M.J. (1999) Corn Hybrid Response to Planting Date in the Northern Corn Belt. Agronomy Journal, 91, 834-839. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj1999.915834x
[5]	Henderson, K.G. and Shields, B.P. (2006) Characteristics of Autumn Precipitation Trends in the Northeastern United States. The Professional Geographer, 58, 184-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9272.2006.00525.x
[6]	Henderson, K.G. (2000) Autumn Precipitation Trends in the Northeastern United States. Middle States Geographer, 33, 74-81.
[7]	Thomison, P.R., Mullen, R.W., Lipps, P.E., Doerge, T. and Geyer, A.B. (2011) Corn Response to Harvest Date as Affected by Plant Population and Hybrid. Agronomy Journal, 103, 1765-1772. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2011.0147
[8]	Thomison, P., Geyer, A. and Minyo, R. (2006) Leaving Corn in the Field Through the Winter: How Much Do You Lose? Crop Observation and Recommendation Network. http://corn.osu.edu/newsletters/2006/article?issueid=125&articleid=717
[9]	Lauer, J. (2004) Some Pros and Cons of Letting Corn Stand in the Field through Winter. Wisconsin Crop Manager. http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/WCM/W160.aspx
[10]	Stanger, T.F. and Lauer, J.G. (2007) Corn Stalk Response to Plant Population and the Bt-European Corn Borer Trait. Agronomy Journal, 99, 657-664. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2006.0079
[11]	Stanger, T.F. and Lauer, J.G. (2006) Optimum Plant Population of Bt and Non-Bt Corn in Wisconsin. Agronomy Journal, 98, 914-921. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2005.0144
[12]	Bruns, H.A. and Abbas, H.K. (2005) Ultra-High Plant Populations and Nitrogen Fertility Effects on Corn in the Mississippi Valley. Agronomy Journal, 97, 1136-1140. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2004.0295
[13]	Pedersen, P. and Lauer, J.G. (2002) Influence of Rotation Sequence on the Optimum Corn and Soybean Plant Population. Agronomy Journal, 94, 968-974. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2002.0968
[14]	Thomison, P.R. and Jordan, D.M. (1995) Plant Population Effects on Corn Hybrids Differing in Ear Growth Habit and Prolificacy. Journal of Production Agriculture, 8, 394-400. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jpa1995.0394
[15]	Moentono, M.D., Darrah, L.L., Zuber, M.S. and Krause, G.F. (1984) Effects of Selection for Stalk Strength on Responses to Plant Density and Level of Nitrogen Application in Maize. Maydica, 29, 431-452.
[16]	Byamukama, E., Abendroth, L.J., Elmore, R.W. and Robertson, A.E. (2013) Quantifying the Effect of Pyraclostrobin on Grain-fill Period and Kernel Dry Matter Accumulation in Maize. Plant Health Progress. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PHP-2013-1024-02-RS
[17]	Wise, K. and Mueller, D. (2011) Are Fungicides No Longer Just for Fungi? An Analysis of Foliar Fungicide Use in Corn. APSnet Features. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/APSnetFeature-2011-0531
[18]	Mahoney, K.J., Nurse, R.E., Everman, W.J., Sprague, C.L. and Sikkema, P.H. (2014) Tolerance of Corn (Zea mays L.) to Early and Late Glyphosate Applications. American Journal of Plant Science, 5, 2748-2754. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2014.518291
[19]	US Department of Agriculture-Economic Research Service (2014) Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S. http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption
[20]	Soltani, N., Stewart, C.L., Nurse, R.E., Van Eerd, L.L., Vyn, R.J. and Sikkema, P.H. (2012) Weed Control, Environmental Impact and Profitability of Weed Management Strategies in Glyphosate-Resistant Corn. American Journal of Plant Science, 3, 1594-1607. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2012.311193
[21]	Ma, B.L., Meloche, F. and Wei, L. (2009) Agronomic Assessment of Bt Trait and Seed or Soil-Applied Insecticides on the Control of Corn Rootworm and Yield. Field Crops Research, 111, 189-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2008.12.006
[22]	Gray, M.E., Steffey, K.L., Estes, R.E. and Schroeder, J.B. (2007) Responses of Transgenic Maize Hybrids to Variant Western Corn Rootworm Larval Injury. Journal of Applied Entomology, 131, 386-390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0418.2007.01171.x
[23]	Graeber, J.V., Nafziger, E.D. and Mies, D.W. (1999) Evaluation of Transgenic, Bt-Containing Corn Hybrids. Journal of Production Agriculture, 12, 659-663. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jpa1999.0659
[24]	Lauer, J.G. and Wedberg, J. (1999) Grain Yield of Initial Bt Corn Hybrid Introductions to Farmers in the Northern Corn Belt. Journal of Production Agriculture, 12, 373-376. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jpa1999.0373
[25]	Rodgers, E.G. (1952) Brittleness and Other Responses of Corn to 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid. Plant Physiology, 27, 153-172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1104/pp.27.1.153
[26]	Vyn, J.D., Swanton, C.J., Weaver, S.E. and Sikkema, P.H. (2006) Control of Amaranthus tuberculatus var. rudis (Common Waterhemp) with Pre and Post-Emergence Herbicides in Zea mays L. (Maize). Crop Protection, 25, 1051-1056. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2006.01.016
[27]	Brown, D.M. and Bootsma, A. (1993) Crop Heat Units for Corn and Other Warm-Season Crops in Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Toronto. Factsheet No. 93-119, Agdex 111/31, 4 p.
[28]	Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs (2013) Guide to Weed Control, 2014-2015. Publication 75, Toronto, 432 p.
[29]	Littell, R.C. (2006) SAS® For Mixed Models. 2nd Edition, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, 813 p.
[30]	Coulter, J.A., Nafziger, E.D., Janssen, M.R. and Pedersen, P. (2010) Response of Bt and Near-Isoline Corn Hybrids to Plant Density. Agronomy Journal, 102, 103-111. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2009.0217
[31]	Widdicombe, W.D. and Thelen, K.D. (2002) Row Width and Plant Density Effects on Corn Grain Production in the Northern Corn Belt. Agronomy Journal, 94, 1020-1023. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2002.1020
[32]	Porter, P.M., Hicks, D.R., Lueschen, W.E., Ford, J.H., Warnes, D.D. and Hoverstad, T.R. (1997) Corn Response to Row Width and Plant Population in the Northern Corn Belt. Journal of Production Agriculture, 10, 293-300. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jpa1997.0293
[33]	Bartlett, D.W., Clough, J.M., Godwin, J.R., Hall, A.A., Hamer, M. and Parr-Dobrzanski, B. (2002) The Strobilurin Fungicides. Pest Management Science, 58, 649-662. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.520
[34]	Blandino, M., Galeazzi, M., Savoia, W. and Reyneri, A. (2012) Timing of Azoxystrobin + Propiconazole Application on Maize to Control Northern Corn Leaf Blight and Maximize Grain Yield. Field Crops Research, 139, 20-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2012.09.014
[35]	Bradley, C.A. and Ames, K.A. (2010) Effect of Foliar Fungicides on Corn with Simulated Hail Damage. Plant Disease, 94, 83-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-94-1-0083
[36]	Nelson, K.A. and Meinhardt, C.G. (2011) Foliar Boron and Pyraclostrobin Effects on Corn Yield. Agronomy Journal, 103, 1352-1358. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2011.0090
[37]	Shah, D.A. and Dillard, H.R. (2010) Managing Foliar Diseases of Processing Sweet Corn in New York with Strobilurin Fungicides. Plant Disease, 94, 213-220. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-94-2-0213
[38]	Schneider, N. and Lauer, J. (2009) Weigh Risk of Leaving Corn Stand Through Winter. UW-Extension, Team Grains. http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/Teams/TG001.pdf