Seed Orientation Effects on Corn Growth and Development.

Advances in precision planting systems have created the potential to allow farmers to control the orientation of individual corn kernels at the time of planting. Previous research, in Illinois, shows a quicker emergence when planted tip down and an added yield benefit with uniform leaf orientation. Explanations to this vary.  By planting tip down, the radical exerts less energy because it grows directly down. The leaf orientation affects the quality and quantity of light within the canopy, affecting growth of the plant. The objective of this research was to investigate how seed orientation will affect corn in River Falls, WI. To start, the orientation of the first corn leaf was observed relative to the seed scar when planted tip down in the greenhouse. It was observed to orientate parallel to the scar. Using this observation, the corn seeds were planted in the field so the first leaf was orientated a specific direction. In a randomized complete block field trial with five treatments and three replications, the effect of the first leaf orientation was measured. The five treatments were: 1) random orientation; 2) tip down with the scar placed randomly; 3) tip down with the scar orientated left; 4) tip down scar orientated forward; 5) tip up scar placed randomly.  Emergence date, first and ear leaf orientation, canopy cover and yield were measured on the middle rows of each treatment to quantify these differences.