Agronomic Responses of Corn Hybrids to Plant Density in Central Louisiana.

Increased seed costs make it important to know if the optimum plant density for corn grain yield differs with hybrid relative maturity.  In 2015 a study was conducted in central Louisiana, agronomic responses of corn to eight different plant densities ranging from 20,000 to 55,000 plants per acre were evaluated for 112, 114, and 116 relative maturity hybrids. The study was conducted under dryland conditions in a Coushatta silt loam.  Corn was planted on 38 inch row centers.  Experimental design was a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block with four replications. Agronomic responses that were evaluated included plant height, stalk diameter, root lodging, stalk lodging, grain yield, grain moisture, and test weight.  The objectives of this study were to characterize the agronomic responses of regionally adapted hybrids of differing relative maturities to plant density and the subsequent impact on corn grain yield and net returns.