AGRONOMIC AND TEST INFORMATION: DALHART
TEST: 2008 Irrigated Corn Performance Test
LOCATION: Robert and Jared Gordon Farm, Dalhart, Texas
COOPERATORS: Robert Gordon, Jared Gordon, Nick Simpson, Dennis Pietsch, and Stephen Labar
SOIL TYPE: Dallam sandy loam
ROW WIDTH: 30"
PREVIOUS CROP: Wheat
LAND PREPARATION: Striptill
DATE PLANTED: 4-29-08 with cones mounted on an ALMACO planter using JD Max-Emerge II units
PLOT LENGTH: 25’
FERTILIZER: 220+40+10+15(S)+.5 Zn. Nitrogen was applied throughout the growing season thru center pivot irrigation system. All other nutrients were applied as ½ preplant and ½ at planting.
HERBICIDE: Applied 1.4 qt/A Bicep at planting and sprayed Basis Gold when corn was approximately 18” tall.
FUNGICIDE: Applied Stratego at label rate during the pre-tassel stage for control of Gray Leaf Spot
INSECTICIDE: Applied Onager at label rate during silking stage for control of mites
RAINFALL: Mr. Gordon reported the test block received approximately 7” of rainfall during the growing season
IRRIGATIONS: Applied 26” of water throughout the growing season by center pivot
DATE HARVESTED: 11-05-08, with a JD 3300 plot combine equipped with Harvestmaster Grain Gauge System
SIZE HARVESTED PLOT: 2 rows, 25' long
TEST DESIGN: Randomized complete block
NUMBER ENTRIES: 30
NUMBER REPLICATIONS: 4
NUMBER ROWS/PLOT: 2
MEAN PLANT POP: 31,154
TEST MEAN: 282.4 bu/A; yields corrected to 15.5% moisture
TEST C.V.: 6.25%
COMMENTS: This test located in Dallam County is representative of conditions located in Texas Crop Reporting District 1N. District 1N is a major corn producing area in Texas. It is estimated by the Texas Agricultural Statistics Service that farmers in this District harvested 820,000 acres of corn, or 39.0% of Texas’ corn acreage in 2008. This is an increase of 4.59% from 2007 when 784,000 acres were harvested.
Excellent plant stands; good agronomic practices, and a good irrigation schedule were contributing factors that resulted in outstanding yields at this test site.
The test block was planted on April 29, which is an optimum planting date for this area. Seeds were packaged to obtain a final plant population of approximately 32,500 plants per acre. After the test block was planted, an irrigation was applied which insured germination and seedling emergence.
Excellent plant growth resulted from beneficial rainfall and a timely irrigation schedule. A total of 26” of irrigation water was applied through the center pivot irrigation system that insured continuous plant growth and development. Preplant fertilizer was applied to the test block and additional nitrogen was applied thru the center pivot system throughout the growing season. A fungicide and an insecticide were applied at the proper times to control Grey Leaf Spot and mites respectively.
Outstanding yields were attained with the mean yield being 282.4 bu/A compared to 280.7 bu/A in 2007. The past 3-year average is 223.9 bu/A. Three hybrids produced over 300 bu/A. Bushel weights ranged from 57.7 lb/bu to 62.4 lb/bu with the mean being 59.8 lb/bu. The incidence of lodging was minimal. This was a very uniform test as reflected by the C.V. of 6.47%.