Oklahoma corn performance trials, 2009

              OKLAHOMA CORN PERFORMANCE TRIALS, 2009
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY CROPS
OKLAHOMA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
DEPARTMENT OF PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES
DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES & NATURAL RESOURCES
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
PT 2010-3 January 2010 Vol. 22, No. 3
Rick Kochenower Britt Hicks
Area Research and Extension Specialist Area Extension Livestock Specialist
Plant and Soil Sciences Department Northwest District
TRIAL OBJECTIVES AND PROCEDURES
Each year the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service conducts corn performance trials in Oklahoma. These trials provide producers, extension educators, industry representatives, and researchers with information on corn hybrids marketed in Oklahoma. Company participation was voluntary, so some hybrids marketed in Oklahoma were not included in the test. Company or brand name, entry designation, plant characteristics, and maturity information, were provided by the companies and were not validated by OSU; therefore, we strongly recommend consulting company representatives for more detailed information regarding these traits and disease resistance ratings (Tables 3 and 4).
Irrigated test plots were established at the Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center (OPREC) near Goodwell and the Joe Webb farm near Guymon. Additionally in 2009 dry-land trials were conducted in north central Oklahoma at Enid, Jet, and Wakita. Fertility levels, herbicide use, and soil series (when available) are listed with data. Individual plots were two 25-foot rows seeded at a target population of 32,000 plants/ac for irrigated and 23,000 plants/ac for the trials in north central Oklahoma. Plots were trimmed to 20 feet prior to being harvested to determine grain yield. The ensilage trial was seeded the same as grain trial with 10 feet of one row harvested to determine yield. Experimental design for all locations was a randomized complete block with four replications. Grain yield is reported consistent with U.S. No. 1 grade corn (56 lbs/bu and adjusted to moisture content of 15.5%). Corn ensilage was harvested at the early dent stage with average moisture content of 69 % and production is reported as tons/ac adjusted to 65% moisture.
GROWING CONDITIONS
North Central Oklahoma
The early part of the planting season was characterized by dry soil in many areas. The trial in Wakita was planted into dry soil, while the trials at Jet and Enid were planted in adequate soil moisture. The trials were planted on March 26, the day before the blizzard that hit northwest and north central Oklahoma. The snow and cold temperatures (a freeze on April 6 and 7 reduced wheat yields) slowed germination and emergence of corn. After the corn emerged, conditions improved until late June. In June lack of precipitation and high temperatures the last two weeks dramatically affected corn, mainly west of I-35 (Table 1). Conditions east of I-35 were almost ideal throughout the growing season and grain yields were considerably higher than west of I-35 with yields over 120 bu/ac reported. The lack of precipitation and high temperatures (8 of last 14 days in June had high temperatures above 100 ˚F) caused many acres of corn to not be harvested either due to low yields or levels of aflatoxins being too high for grain to be accepted at elevators. The trials at Wakita and Enid were harvested but the data not reported. Deer found the plots at Wakita and caused the data to be to variable to report. Grain yields were severely reduced at the Enid location with yields ranging from 5 to 18 bu/ac, also the yields were so variable they are not reported. Enough grain was harvest at each location to sample for Aflatoxin of four hybrids each location. Aflatoxin was present at each location and ranged from 100 ppb to over 400 from both sites.