Flex Ear Corn Hybrid Population Yield Response to Narrow Rows.

With the popularity of the “Draper” combine headers, there is a renewed interest in narrow row corn production. Studies in 2017 were conducted on a Leeper Catalpa complex, silty clay loam soil (Starkville, MS) and a Catalpa silty clay loam soil (Verona, MS). Flex ear hybrids Pioneer 2089, DKC 64-69, DKC 70-77 and Armor 1414 were planted in 19-inch rows with plant populations of 30,000, 40,000 and 50,000 plants per acre. The studies were conducted as a split-split plot factorial arrangement of treatments. Studies were planted with a vacuum planter at Starkville and a precision planter at Verona. Starkville yields ranged from 222 to 257 bu/acre. DKC 68-26 had the highest study yield of 257 bu/acre at 50,000 plants/acre. The other hybrids maximized yield were at 40,000 plants/acre. Verona yields ranged from 181 to 272 bu/acre. Pioneer 2089 had the highest study yield of 272 bu/acre at 40,000 plants/acre. The other hybrids optimized yields with 40,000 plants/acre.