AGRONOMIC AND TEST INFORMATION: TYNAN

TEST: 2009 Irrigated Corn Performance Test

LOCATION: Erich Schneider Farm, Tynan, Texas

COOPERATORS: Erich Schneider and Duane Campion

SOIL TYPE: Victoria clay loam

ROW WIDTH: 30"

PREVIOUS CROP: Cotton

LAND PREPARATION: Chiseled, disked, field-cultivated, and bedded

DATE PLANTED: 3-2-09 with cones mounted on an ALMACO planter using JD Max-Emerge II units

PLOT LENGTH: 2 rows 26'

FERTILIZER: 1-1-09: Applied 300 lb/A of 29+4+0

Applied 30+0+0 thru center pivot system during growing season as 32+0+0

HERBICIDE: Applied .5 lb/A of Atrazine on 1-19-09

Applied pre-emerge 1.33 pt/A of Parallel + 1.5 pt/A MiloPro

INSECTICIDE: None, seeds were requested to be treated with a seed insecticide

RAINFALL: 4.8” of rainfall was recorded from January thru July.

IRRIGATIONS: A total of 12.8” were applied through the center pivot irrigation system at a rate of 1.5” per application. This included a pre-plant irrigation

DATE HARVESTED: 7-17-09 with JD 3300 plot combine equipped with Grain Gauge

SIZE HARVESTED PLOT: 2 rows, 26'

TEST DESIGN: Randomized complete block

NUMBER ENTRIES: 30

NUMBER REPLICATIONS: 4

NUMBER ROWS/PLOT: 2

MEAN PLANT POP: 26,431 plants/A

TEST MEAN: 100.4 bu/A; yields corrected to 15.5% moisture

TEST C.V.: 10.28%

COMMENTS: This test, located near Tynan in Bee County, is representative of conditions in the Coastal Bend Area of Texas. Although most of the corn acreage in the Coastal Bend Area is produced under natural rainfall, there is some acreage produced under an irrigated scenario using center pivot systems. Irrigation in this area is basically designed to be used as a supplemental water source, if needed, instead of a primary water source when dry conditions persist. Over the past several years, it has been observed that timely applied irrigations in addition to well-distributed rainfall during the growing season have resulted in excellent yields in this area.

For the 2nd consecutive year, conditions were not favorable for corn production in this area. The season started with very little subsoil moisture due to a lack of rainfall during the fall and winter months. Originally, corn was to be planted in the area surrounding the test; however, due to the lack of moisture going into the season, the farmer planted the remaining area of the field to grain sorghum. Mr. Schneider accompanied us by applying two pre-plant irrigations to the test block, which provided ample moisture for the March 2nd planting date. Seedling emergence was rapid and good plant stands were attained. Early plant growth was good; however, a period of high winds during early-April resulted in young plants being “blown-over” or lodged. Most plants were able to recover and continued to develop.

Hot and dry conditions persisted during the growing season. The test block received only 4.8” of rainfall from January through July. Due to the lack of rainfall, approximately 8.1” of irrigation water was applied through a center pivot system during the growing season. These irrigations were applied to alleviate plant stress, however high water demands by the plants, in conjunction with high temperatures, resulted in plant stress. Final yields were affected by these events.

The test mean yield was only 100.4 bu/A with three hybrids producing over 120 bu/A. Test weights were good with the range being from 55.5 bu/A to 60.6 bu/A. Plant and ear heights were relatively short due to the drought.