Variation in Corn Yield across Planter Width
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The study found that corn yield varied across planter width, with the outside wing harvest passes yielding significantly more than the center passes at most locations, averaging 11.3 bushels per acre more. This confirms that soil compaction from planter wheels in the interrows can reduce corn yield in adjacent rows. Splitting planters into more than two strips for trials could unfairly bias results due to differential wheel traffic impacts. Growers should be aware of potential yield effects of compaction when setting up split-planter comparisons.
Variation in Corn Yield across Planter Width
- 1. Variation in Corn Yield across Planter Width
- 2. Soil Compaction and Corn Yields • Excessive soil compaction can reduce corn yield by restricting root growth and limiting water and air infiltration into the root zone. • A common source of soil compaction is wheel traffic from large machinery at harvest, particularly when soils are wet. • However, wheel traffic compaction is also created between crop rows during planting. – Research has shown that compaction created in the interrows at planting can decrease yield. – Larger and heavier equipment increases the potential for compaction at planting. • Compaction is more variable across the field with wider planters – Center fill planters may exacerbate this effect by further concentrating wheel traffic weight in the center of the planter pass
- 3. DuPont Pioneer Research Study • In 2011, DuPont Pioneer conducted 12 on-farm trials in Minnesota looking at variability in corn yield associated with wheel traffic compaction across the width of planter passes. • The objectives of this study were to: – Evaluate corn yields across the width of large modern planters, comparing the center segment, where wheel traffic is concentrated, to the outer wing segments – Determine implications for best practices when setting up split-planter trials
- 4. Study Description • Twelve field-length strip experiments were conducted on farms in southern Minnesota in 2011. • The number of replicates varied by location, from 3 to 18. • A single hybrid was used across the entire trial within each location. • Trial locations and plot layout of planter width yield trials conducted in southern Minnesota in 2011. Number of replications varied by location.
- 5. Study Description • All trials were harvested using a corn head that was one-third the width of the planter. • The two outside one-third planter passes (or the wing segments) were harvested and their mean yield compared to the inside one-third planter pass (or the center segment). • The center segments may have had additional wheel traffic (e.g., sprayer pass) that was not characterized as part of this study. • Three different planter configurations were included in this study: – 36 rows, 22-inch spacing, center fill (3 locations) – 48 rows, 20-inch spacing, row-unit boxes (4 locations) – 36 rows, 20-inch spacing, center fill (5 locations)
- 6. Results Results from this study showed that corn yield varied across planter width. – The average corn yields on the outside wing harvest passes were significantly greater than those of the center harvest passes at nine of the 12 trial locations. – The difference in yield between the wing and center passes varied by location, and the average across all locations was 11.3 bu/acre (See graph on next slide). – The variation in yield effects across locations was not unexpected • because wheel compaction varies with soil moisture, the yield impact of wheel traffic at planting should vary among environments based on soil conditions. All study locations were planted in narrow rows (20 and 22 inches), which puts corn in closer proximity to a compacted wheel track in the interrow. – Overall yield effects of wheel compaction at planting could be greater in narrow rows than in 30-inch rows.
- 7. Results Corn yield difference between wing harvest passes and center harvest passes in 12 on-farm field-length strip trials conducted in southern Minnesota in 2011. Asterisks denote locations where yield was significantly different between wing and center harvest passes.
- 8. Conclusion • Results from this study confirm findings of previous research showing that soil compaction created in the interrows at planting can reduce corn yield in the adjacent rows, creating variability in yield across the width of the planter. • Aside from avoiding planting when soils are too wet, there is often little growers can do to reduce interrow compaction at planting. • However, it is important to be aware of the potential yield effects when conducting a split-planter comparison: – If the planter is divided into three or more strips, which may be convenient with the size of modern planters, the results from these trials may be unfairly biased due to the differential impact of wheel traffic among the strips. – Consequently, growers should avoid splitting planter passes into more than two strips to ensure the most accurate possible yield comparison.
- 9. References Carter, Paul. 1996. Wheel Traffic Between Corn Rows Crop Insights, Vol. 6, No. 22. Pioneer Hi-Bred, Johnston, IA. Kaspar, T.C., S.D. Logsdon, and M.A. Prieksat. 1995. Traffic pattern and tillage system effects on corn root and shoot growth. Agron. J. 87:1046-1051.