Row Width Effect On Corn Yield in Kentucky.

Studies were conducted to determine if narrow row corn (Zea mays L.) and/or greater plant densities could affect time to silking, yield, and other physiological characteristics. Main plots were six hybrids were arranged as a randomized complete bock design with three replications. Split plots were row widths of 76-cm (wide rows) and 20-cm rows on 76-cm spacing (twin rows). Split-split plots were target plant densities of 75000 and 112500 plants ha^-1. Corn was no-till seeded into soybean stubble near Lexington, KY in 2011 and 2012. At the greater target density, kernel yields in twin rows were greater than yields in wide rows for three of the six hybrids in 2011. Twin rows hastened thermal time to silking for one hybrid while the lower plant density hastened thermal time to silking for four hybrids. The greater plant density reduced row number per ear while twin rows increased row number per ear in 2011. Total kernels per ear were reduced by increasing target plant density, but row width had no effect on kernels per ear in 2011.