91050
Evaluation of Hybrids and Planting Dates on Corn Growth and Yield Under Rainfed Systems in Mississippi.

See more from this Division: Submissions
See more from this Session: Graduate Student Oral Competiton – Crops
Monday, February 2, 2015: 10:30 AM
Westin Peachtree Plaza, Chastain F
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Matthew Hock, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, Godakande Wijewardana, Apt # 6F, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, W. Brien Henry, Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, K. Raja Reddy, Box 9555, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS and Normie Buehring, North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State Univerity, Verona, MS
Corn, (Zea mays L.) like all crops needs moisture for growth and development.  However, corn is more responsive to irrigation than other crops, especially during reproductive growth stages. The critical period for corn production during which moisture must be present to ensure optimum yields is a two to three week window around tasseling. Corn in Mississippi is planted the middle of March through the later part of April. Planting corn during these times results in the reproductive phase falling during the months of June and July. These are usually the hottest, driest months of the year. Experiments evaluating early planting dates were conducted from 2013 to 2014 at two locations in central Mississippi. The objective of the experiment was to determine the growth and yield effects that planting date had on four commercially available hybrids. Each year and location experienced yield differences across planting dates. There was a 7% to 27% yield benefit attributable to planting early in 2013 with a 5% to 88% benefit for planting early in 2014. Data suggests there are benefits to planting corn early in Mississippi and hybrid selection does affect yield. The ultimate decision to plant early depends upon a producer’s soil type, equipment and especially upon personal risk/reward tolerance. However, in selecting a planting date, there appears to be far greater yield penalties associated with late planting as compared to early planting.
See more from this Division: Submissions
See more from this Session: Graduate Student Oral Competiton – Crops