STUDIES ON CULTURAL PRACTICES AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR CORN

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1 2011 Wisconsin Research Report of STUDIES ON CULTURAL PRACTICES AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR CORN Department of Agronomy College of Agriculture and Life Sciences University of Wisconsin - Madison

2 2011 Wisconsin Research Report of Studies on Cultural Practices and Management Systems for Corn Joe Lauer Corn Agronomist 358 Moore Hall (608) Kent Kohn Program Manager 566 Moore Hall (608) Agronomy Department University of Wisconsin 1575 Linden Drive Madison, WI (608) Thierno Diallo Research Specialist 566 Moore Hall (608) The information presented in this report is for the purpose of informing cooperators in industry of the results of research conducted during The cooperation of other faculty and staff and the support of funding agencies and industry are gratefully acknowledged. The information presented in this report does not constitute recommendation or endorsement. This information is NOT FOR PUBLICATION unless prior approval is received. The assistance of the following people in conducting these studies is acknowledged. Graduate Research Assistants: Scott Rountree and David Marburger Cooperating Faculty: Shawn Conley Agronomy, Natalia de-leon Agronomy, Matt Digman Bio Systems Engineering, Randy Shaver Dairy Science, Carrie Laboski Soil Science Cooperating UWEX County Agents and ARS Staff: Jerry Clark, Mike Rankin, John Zander, Mike Bertram, Charles Kostichka, Darwin Frye, Tim Wood, Bob Rand, Jim Stute, Matt Repking, Glenn Carlson Cooperating Farmers: Matt Berge, Ken Congdon, Mike Maass, and Ed Montsma Cooperating Academic Staff: John Gaska and Mark Martinka Project Summer Crew: Alison Welhouse, Jacob Baudo, Michael Koeppl and Elisa Weiss

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Growing Conditions and Measurements Location Experiment Page Table 2011 Crop Summary 1 Arlington Daily Rainfall, Temperature and GDU Arlington 5 A-1 Arlington Monthly Rainfall Arlington 9 A-2 Arlington Monthly Temperatures Arlington 10 A-3 Hancock Rainfall, Temperature and GDU Hancock 12 A-4 Hancock Monthly Rainfall Hancock 16 A-5 Hancock Monthly Temperatures Hancock 17 A-6 Marshfield Rainfall, Temperature and GDU Marshfield 18 Marshfield Monthly Rainfall Marshfield 19 A-7 Marshfield Monthly Temperatures Marshfield 20 A-8 Observations, Data Collected, and Statistical Analysis 21 B-1 Soils Information 23 B-2 Corn Hybrid Maturity Hybrid Growth & Development Arlington C-01 & C-02 Lancaster C-03 Marshfield C-04 Seymour C-05 Valders C-06 Wilber Ellis Fond du Lac C-07 Galesville C-08 Hancock C-09 Private Silage AgReliant Arlington C-10 Lancaster C-11 Fond du Lac C-12 Galesville C-13 Chippewa Falls C-14 Marshfield C-15 Valders C-16 BASF Chippewa Falls C-17 Marshfield C-18 Valders C-19 Plant Density Grain - Yield Data Arlington C-20 Silage - Yield Data Arlington C-21 Grain - Yield Data Marshfield C-22 Silage - Yield Data Marshfield C-23

4 Location Experiment Page Table Planting Date Corn and Silage Trial Arlington C-24,C-25 & C-26 Row Spacing x Plant Density Corn - Yield Data Arlington C-27 Silage - Yield Data Arlington C-28 Seed Treatment Syngenta Arlington C-29 Coleman C-30 Fond du Lac C-31 Marshfield C-32 Seymour C-33 Valders C-34 BioChar Trial Corn - Yield Data Arlington C-35 Soybean - Yield Data Arlington C-36 Corn Alfalfa Corn - Yield Data Arlington C-37 Alfalfa - Yield Data Arlington C-38 Silage - Yield Data Arlington C-39 Corn - Yield Data Marshfield C-40 Silage - Yield Data Marshfield C-41 Alfalfa - Yield Data Marshfield C-42 Corn-Soybean Rotation Study Corn - Yield Data Arlington C-43 Soybean - Yield Data Arlington C-44 Corn-Soybean-Wheat Rotation Study Corn - Yield Data Arlington C-45 Silage Yield Data Arlington C-46 Soybean - Yield Data Arlington C-47 Wheat - Yield Data Arlington C-48 Corn - Yield Data Marshfield C-49 Silage Yield Data Marshfield C-50 Soybean - Yield Data Marshfield C-51 Wheat - Yield Data Marshfield C-52 Monsanto SmartStax Trial Arlington C-53 Cutting Height Silage Trial Silage Yield Data Arlington C-54

5 Thin Study Location Experiment Page Table Influence of Thinning on Corn Trial Arlington C-55 Tillage in Corn and Soybean Production Systems Corn - Yield Data Arlington C-56 Soybean - Yield Data Arlington C-57 Corn Cropping Production Systems Corn - Yield Data Arlington C-58

6 46 o 34 UW Corn Agronomy Research Locations Spooner 45 o 0 Chippewa Falls Coleman Marshfield Seymour Galesville Hancock Valders Fond du Lac Arlington 42 o 30 Lancaster Janesville We wish to thank the following companies and organizations that have generously supported our research through financial and/or material donations. UW College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Hatch Program Ag Reliant Genetics LLC BASF Plant Science Channel Bio Croplan Genetics Dairyland Seed Legacy Seeds LG Seeds Monsanto Mycogen Seeds Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Renk Seed Company Syngenta Crop Protection Syngenta Seeds Wilber Ellis Wisconsin Fertilizer Council

7 Crop Summary for Wisconsin Percent Condition of Corn Crop Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent May 29 Jun 12 Jun 26 Jul 10 Jul 24 Aug 7 Aug 21 Sep 4 Sep 18 Oct 2 Oct 16 Progress of Corn Crop 100 Bold Lines = Normal (30-years) Regular lines = Percent Planting Emerged Silking Dough Dent Mature Harvested 20 0 Apr 1 Apr 15 Apr 29 May 13 May 27 Jun 10 Jun 24 Jul 8 Jul 22 Aug 5 Aug 19 Sep 2 Sep 16 Sep 30 Oct 14 Oct Corn Acreage and Yield 175 Planted Acres Planted Acres (x 1000) GrainYield Grain Yield (bu/a)

8 2 Crop Progress Review of 2011 (Derived from USDA NASS reports) Late Spring, Hot Summer, Dry Fall After a late, cold start, 2011 saw a roller coaster growing season. April s snows and cold rain allowed little advancement in spring tillage and planting. Frosts continued well into May, as excess rain and unseasonably cool temperatures delayed crop emergence. A warm, dry start to June allowed soil moistures to drop below 95 percent adequate surplus statewide, but moistures climbed back above 94 percent adequate surplus by the end of the month as rains and cool temperatures returned. July and early August brought unrelenting heat, boosting crop growth and drying out fields. By the end of August, soil moistures were short or very short for 35 percent of the state, with the most pronounced shortages in southern Wisconsin. September remained very dry, with lower than average temperatures. An early frost mid month halted the growing season in some northern parts of the state. Temperatures then climbed briefly into the 80s in early October before settling back to more seasonable levels. Dry, warm conditions allowed harvests, haying and fieldwork to quickly catch up to and surpass five year averages. In spite of a mid month snowstorm, temperatures remained above average throughout November. Rain and melting snow brought muddy field conditions to the eastern parts of the state, while bypassing the northwest. However, the overall mild fall weather proved favorable for harvest and fieldwork, particularly fall tillage. On November 27, fall tillage was 82 percent complete, well above the five year average of 68 percent. Statewide temperatures from June to September were 1.0 degrees above normal in 2011, continuing the trend from April through June and September had slightly below normal temperatures with May averaging 2.1 degrees below normal. July and August had above normal temperatures, with July averaging 3.9 degrees above normal. The month with the greatest departure from normal was November, which averaged 4.6 degrees above normal. Precipitation totals for April through September were below normal across the state, with a statewide total of inches. This was inches below the total for 2010 and 1.33 inches below normal. Total precipitation in the northern third of the state was 1.20 inches below normal for April through September, the central third of the state was 0.43 inches below normal, and the southern third of the state was 2.12 inches below normal precipitation. Statewide, May, August and September were below normal for total precipitation, but April, June and July were slightly above normal. CORN Unseasonably cold and wet conditions in April and May delayed corn planting in Adverse conditions led some producers to change their planting plans, substituting shorter maturity day corn or soybeans on planned corn acreage. By May 1, only one percent of corn was planted statewide, well below the five year average of 23 percent and planting remained behind throughout the month. Corn emergence and height stayed below average through the end of June. The sustained heat and humidity of July and August boosted corn maturity up to the five year average. Growing degree days for corn surpassed normal the week of July 10 and remained above normal for the rest of the season. However, short topsoil moisture stressed the crop and prompted some producers in southern Wisconsin to begin harvesting corn for silage in mid August. A hard frost in mid September caused some corn in northern Wisconsin to stop maturing early. Corn harvest was starting up statewide at the beginning of October, with unusually warm and dry weather creating excellent harvesting conditions. By October 30, corn silage harvest had wrapped up and corn for grain was 55

9 3 percent harvested, well above the five year average of 45 percent. In spite of a mid November snowstorm and soggy field conditions in the eastern parts of the state, corn harvest was finished for most by the end of the month. SOYBEANS Due to this year s cold, wet spring, soybean planting for most producers did not get underway until mid May. Soybeans were only 10 percent planted on May 15, compared to 29 percent in 2010 and a five year average of 26 percent. Soybean emergence lagged behind averages throughout June. The heat of July helped the soybean crop to slowly catch up; on August 7, soybeans were 89 percent blooming compared to a five year average of 85 percent, and 53 percent setting pods, right in line with the five year average. However, soybeans were slow to fill pods due to a lack of moisture in southern Wisconsin and a mid September frost damaged soybeans in low lying areas across the state. These adverse conditions delayed harvest until the beginning of October. Warm, dry fall weather helped soybeans surge from only 2 percent harvested on October 2, 10 percentage points below the five year average, to 83 percent harvested on October 23, a full 20 percentage points above the five year average. The harvest wrapped up quickly in the first week of November, with average to good yields and low moistures reported. SMALL GRAINS April s snowfall and below normal temperatures delayed oat planting in much of the state. On May 1, oats were 38 percent planted in the three southernmost districts of the state, but only 4 percent planted in the six northern districts, compared to a statewide five year average of 64 percent. Cool, wet weather kept planting, emergence and maturity well below averages throughout May and June, though 84 percent of the crop was reportedly in good to excellent condition on June 26. July s blast of heat helped speed grain development, and harvest began late in the month. Statewide, the harvest was 94 percent complete on August 28, right in line with the five year average of 95 percent. Winter wheat came through the winter in good condition and tolerated the snowy spring well. On May 8, 74 percent of winter wheat had no freeze damage, with 20 percent showing light freeze damage. Condition showed steady improvement throughout April, May and June, reaching and holding at 81 percent good to excellent through the heat of July. Condition then fell a few percentage points as harvest took off in August. Reports on yields and test weights varied widely from county to county. HAY & PASTURES Alfalfa stands in Wisconsin came out of winter in good shape. Winter freeze damage was reported as 92 percent none to light as of May 15. Though the late spring delayed the start of haying, the first cutting quickly caught up to averages, finishing up by early July. Second cutting hay stayed ahead of the five year average, though the high humidity of July and August made drying hay difficult. On September 4, third crop hay was 93 percent harvested, compared to 87 percent in 2010 and an 85 percent five year average, and fourth crop hay was 27 percent harvested, compared to 31 percent in 2010 and an 18 percent five year average. Though short soil moisture adversely impacted fourth crop yields in some areas, the dry, sunny weather of late summer and fall allowed some southern Wisconsin producers to take a fifth crop in early October. Statewide, hay and roughage supplies were 78 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus on October 30. Pastures were slow to green up due to the lingering cold spring. Pasture conditions improved each week throughout May and June, peaking at 86 percent good to excellent on June 26. Extended hot and dry conditions began to take a toll on both livestock and pastures in July and August, and conditions declined slowly until mid October.

10 Weather Summary for Arlington, WI Cummulative (inches) yr Average = Bold Line Precipitation Daily Daily (inches) 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec yr Average = Bold Line Daily Temperatures Degrees (F) Maximums 20 Freeze line 0 Minimums Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Cummulative (GDUs) Growing Degree Units (modified - base= 50, max = 86) 30-yr Average = Bold Line Daily (GDUs) 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 0

11 5 Table A-1. Daily Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Soil and Air Temperatures and Growing Degree Units at the Arlington Research Station during Soil Temperature Air Growing Degree Precipitation Daily Solar at 2 inches Temperature Units (86/50 F) Day of year Daily Total Radiation Max Min Max Min Daily Total inches W m -2 o F o F 91 1-Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May

12 6 Table A-1. Daily Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Soil and Air Temperatures and Growing Degree Units at the Arlington Research Station during Soil Temperature Air Growing Degree Precipitation Daily Solar at 2 inches Temperature Units (86/50 F) Day of year Daily Total Radiation Max Min Max Min Daily Total inches W m -2 o F o F May May May May May May May Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

13 7 Table A-1. Daily Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Soil and Air Temperatures and Growing Degree Units at the Arlington Research Station during Soil Temperature Air Growing Degree Precipitation Daily Solar at 2 inches Temperature Units (86/50 F) Day of year Daily Total Radiation Max Min Max Min Daily Total inches W m -2 o F o F Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

14 8 Table A-1. Daily Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Soil and Air Temperatures and Growing Degree Units at the Arlington Research Station during Soil Temperature Air Growing Degree Precipitation Daily Solar at 2 inches Temperature Units (86/50 F) Day of year Daily Total Radiation Max Min Max Min Daily Total inches W m -2 o F o F Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct

15 Table A-2. Monthly and total precipitation (inches) data for the Arlington Research Station. 9 Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual year Average

16 Table A-3. Average monthly and annual temperature ( o F) data for the Arlington Research Station. 10 Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual year Average

17 Weather Summary for Hancock, WI Cummulative (inches) Precipitation 30-yr Average = Bold Line Daily Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Daily (inches) Daily Temperatures 30-yr Average = Bold Line Degrees (F) Maximums Freeze line Minimums Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Cummulative (GDUs) Growing Degree Units (modified - base= 50, max = 86) 30-yr Average = Bold Line Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Daily (GDUs)

18 12 Table A-4. Daily Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Soil and Air Temperatures and Growing Degree Units at the Hancock Research Station during Soil Temperature Air Growing Degree Precipitation Daily Solar at 2 inches Temperature Units (86/50 F) Day of year Daily Total Radiation Max Min Max Min Daily Total inches W m -2 o F o F 91 1-Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May May

19 13 Table A-4. Daily Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Soil and Air Temperatures and Growing Degree Units at the Hancock Research Station during Soil Temperature Air Growing Degree Precipitation Daily Solar at 2 inches Temperature Units (86/50 F) Day of year Daily Total Radiation Max Min Max Min Daily Total inches W m -2 o F o F May May May May May May May Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

20 14 Table A-4. Daily Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Soil and Air Temperatures and Growing Degree Units at the Hancock Research Station during Soil Temperature Air Growing Degree Precipitation Daily Solar at 2 inches Temperature Units (86/50 F) Day of year Daily Total Radiation Max Min Max Min Daily Total inches W m -2 o F o F Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

21 15 Table A-4. Daily Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Soil and Air Temperatures and Growing Degree Units at the Hancock Research Station during Soil Temperature Air Growing Degree Precipitation Daily Solar at 2 inches Temperature Units (86/50 F) Day of year Daily Total Radiation Max Min Max Min Daily Total inches W m -2 o F o F Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct

22 16 Table A-5. Monthly and total precipitation (inches) data for the Hancock Research Station. Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual year Average

23 Table A-6. Average monthly and annual temperature ( o F) data for the Hancock Research Station. 17 Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual year Average

24 Weather Summary for Marshfield, WI Cummulative (inches) yr Average = Bold Line Precipitation Daily Daily (inches) 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec yr Average = Bold Line Daily Temperatures Degrees (F) Maximums 20 Freeze line 0 Minimums Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Cummulative (GDUs) Growing Degree Units (modified - base= 50, max = 86) 30-yr Average = Bold Line Daily (GDUs) 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 0

25 19 Table A-7. Monthly and total precipitation (inches) data for the Marshfield Research Station. Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual year Average

26 Table A-8. Average monthly and annual temperature ( o F) data for the Marshfield Research Station. 20 Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual year Average

27 21 Observations and Data Collected STATISTICAL ANALYSIS All data are analyzed using generally accepted statistical tests. In most cases the probabilities of main effects and interactions are shown. The number listed is a percent probability that the effect difference is due to chance (i.e. not due to treatment). A Fisher s Protected Least Significant Difference (LSD) is calculated for all main effect probabilities of 10 percent or less. Table B-1. Observations and Data Collected Corn Measurements Grower Return Units $/acre Formula (weighted price per bushel x yield) - (yield x (handling + hauling + trucking)) -(storage x 0.02) - (yield x (grain moisture-15.5) x drying). Determination Handling cost = $0.02 per bushel Hauling cost = $0.04 per bushel Trucking cost = $0.11 $ per bushel (100 miles) On-farm drying cost = $0.02 per point per bushel Storage = (yield*0.25 *4) + (yield*0.25*8); On-farm $0.02/bu. 30days Weighted Price per Bushel = $5.76 per bushel = (50% December Average Cash price) + (25% March CBOT Futures price) + (25% July CBOT Futures price). December Average Cash price derived from Wisconsin Ag Statistics; CBOT Futures prices derived from closing price on first business day in December. Grain Yield Units Bu/acre Formula (43560/(plot width * plot length in feet)) * weight of sample in lbs.* ((100-sample moisture)/( {moisture standard}))/56 lb/bu Moisture Units % Determination GRAIN: determined by Harvest Master unit on combine or wet weight method and adjusted to standard corn moisture 15.5% WHOLE PLANT: moisture of subsample of chopped whole plant moisture of subsample of chopped stover (whole plant less ears) Test Weight Units lbs/bushel Determination weight of known volume converted to lbs/bushel Plant Height Units inches or centimeters Determination plant height from soil surface to top leaf (flag) canopy. Observations average of several plants in each plot Ear Height Units inches Determination height from soil surface to base of ear Observations average of several plants in each plot Broken Stalks Units % Determination Observations Formula at harvest number of stalks broken below the ear + number of plants lodged at >45% from the whole plot (22' x 2 rows) (broken stalks + lodged plants)/total stalks x 100% Table B-1. Observations and Data Collected Kernel Weight Units mg/seed Determination weight of 100 seeds converted to mg/seed Plant Density Units plants per acre Determination Early = plants at v3-v5 stage Late = just prior to harvest Observations plants counts on whole plot (22' x 2 rows) Ear Density Units Ears per acre Determination Just prior to harvest Observations taken Ear counts are taken from whole plot (22' x 2 rows) Leaf Units none Development Determination count of leaf number Observations LEAF COLLARS: total number of vis ble leaf collars HAIL ADJUSTERS: total number of drooping leaves TOTAL: total number of leaves vis ble Starch (Grain) Units % Determination Near Infra-Red Transmittance Spectroscopy using a global calibration equation from Foss Observations Plot subsample Protein (Grain) Units % Determination Near Infra-Red Transmittance Spectroscopy using a global calibration equation from Foss Observations Plot subsample Oil (Grain) Units % Determination Near Infra-Red Transmittance Spectroscopy using a global calibration equation from Foss Observations Plot subsample Ethanol Units % (Grain) Determination Near Infra-Red Transmittance Spectroscopy using a global calibration equation from Pioneer Observations Plot subsample Diseases ratings Units Rating score = 1-9 1,2,3= Worst; 4,5,6= Mid; 7,8,9= Best Determination Based on amount of disease on plant part of interest Observations Plot measured in the field Forage Yield Units Tons of dry mater per acre (Whole Plant) Formula weight of sample in bs.* (43560/(2000*plot width * plot length in feet)).* ((100-sample moisture)/100) Kernel Milk Units % Determination percent milk remaining in kernel at harvest Observations visual average of three ears from a non-harvest row Kernel Milk Formula % Kernel Milk x 5 Rating (KMR) Scale 0-5 Stover Moisture Formula % Greenness x Leaf Rating (Leaf Rating scale 1-5, Based on % of