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Agronomy Journal 94:1020-1023 (2002)
© 2002 American Society of Agronomy

PRODUCTION PAPER

Row Width and Plant Density Effects on Corn Grain Production in the Northern Corn Belt

William D. Widdicombe and Kurt D. Thelen*

Dep. of Crop and Soil Sci., Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI 48824-1325

* Corresponding author (thelenk3{at}msu.edu)

Received for publication October 12, 2001.

   ABSTRACT
TOP
 ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 REFERENCES
 
Continued genetic improvement in the ability of hybrid corn (Zea mays L.) to withstand high plant density stress requires agronomists to periodically reassess optimal plant density and row width. Furthermore, the optimal plant density level and row width for corn grain yield may vary with location, primarily latitude, in the Corn Belt. This study was conducted to evaluate corn grain yield, harvest moisture, test weight, and stalk lodging with modern corn hybrids, as affected by row width and plant density in the northern Corn Belt. At six locations in 1998 and 1999, four hybrids differing in relative maturity, ear type, plant height, and leaf orientation were planted at row widths of 76, 56, and 38 cm and five plant density levels ranging from 56000 to 90000 plants ha-1. Plots were arranged randomly in a split-split plot configuration. Results show that corn grain yield increased 2 and 4% and harvest moisture decreased by a factor of 2.1% when row width was narrowed from 76 cm to 56 cm and 38 cm, respectively. The highest plant density evaluated, 90000 plants ha-1, had the highest grain yield. Grain moisture decreased and grain test weight increases slightly as plant density increased. A hybrid x row width interaction was not observed indicating that hybrids that yield well in conventional 76-cm row systems will also yield well in narrow row systems.

Abbreviations: GDU, growing degree units


   INTRODUCTION
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 REFERENCES
 
THE optimal row width and plant density in field corn (Zea mays L.) production systems continue to narrow and intensify as corn genetics evolve (Duvick and Cassman, 1999). In 1908, Hume et al. reported a slight advantage of 84 by 84 cm over 112 by 112 cm spacing of hill plots in northern Illinois at both the two- and three-kernel (per hill) planting rate. Rounds et al. (1951) found that drilled corn yielded 7% better than did corn planted in hills. The authors reported that drilling corn allowed higher plant densities than utilized under previous hill planting systems. Higher plant density was found to have a greater effect on yield than row width or planting pattern (Rossman and Cook, 1966). Similarly, Fulton (1970) reported that narrow rows increased corn grain yield only in the presence of both high plant population and high soil water supply. Uniformity between plants within rows affects grain yield by equalizing inter-plant competition and increasing the utilization efficiency of nutrients, water, and solar radiation (Krall et al., 1997; Nafziger, 1996; Hodges and Evans, 1990; Bullock et al., 1988).

Recent studies on narrow-row corn production systems have produced inconsistent results. Results vary from no yield advantage of planting corn in narrow rows (Johnson et al., 1998; Farnham, 2001) to a 7% increase in yield over wider rows as reported by Porter et al. (1997). Nielsen (1988) reported a 2.7% increase in corn grain yield across nine Indiana locations when corn was grown in narrow rows. The greatest advantage with narrow row systems seems to be in northern locations. Paszkiewicz (1997) summarized 84 university and industry studies and reported corn grown north of the Interstate 90 (I-90) corridor responded on average with an 8% increase in yield when row width was narrower than 76 cm. Furthermore, Cox et al. (1998) suggested that corn grown in narrow row widths north of 44° N had a yield advantage over wider rows.

Hybrids developed in recent years are able to withstand higher plant density levels than older hybrids (Tollenaar, 1989). The current hybrids were found to have decreased lodging frequencies at the higher plant populations. Also, newer hybrids were able to better withstand environmental stress, resulting in production of fewer barren plants (Tollenaar, 1991). When selecting hybrids for higher plant densities, Thomison and Jordan (1995) reported that hybrid ear type was of limited importance in determining optimum plant density. Nafziger (1994) evaluated two hybrids with reportedly different responses to plant density and found no significant hybrid x plant density interaction.

In Michigan, many producers growing sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) utilize a 56-cm row width. Also, many soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growers have recently switched from 18 cm grain drill planting to planting with 38 cm row mounted units to gain more precise depth control and equidistant within row seed placement. Additionally, research on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean (Hart, 1998) has shown that row widths wider than the conventional grain drill width of 18 cm can reduce the incidence of white mold infection. Interest in increasing equipment use efficiency, by utilizing the same planter for soybean, sugar beet, and corn, and the observed ability of new corn hybrids to better withstand high plant density stress has contributed to the renewed interest in converting corn row width to narrow row systems.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of 76-, 56-, and 38-cm row widths and increasing plant density levels on corn grain yield, moisture, test weight, and stalk lodging with modern corn hybrids in the northern Corn Belt.


   MATERIALS AND METHODS
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 REFERENCES
 
Field research was conducted in 1998 and 1999 in Calhoun, Huron, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Monroe, and Saginaw counties. The respective soil types for each site were a Spinks loamy sand (sandy, mixed, mesic Psammentic Hapludalfs), Kilmanagh loam (fine-loamy, mixed, nonacide, mesic Aeric Haplaquepts), Capac loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Aeric Ochraqualfs), Schoolcraft loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Argiudolls), Selfridge–Pewamo clay loam (loamy, mixed, mesic Aquic Arenic Hapludalfs), and a Sloan–Ceresco sandy loam complex (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Fluvaquentic Haplaquolls). Trial locations were chosen that best represented the diverse soils and cultural practices utilized in the state of Michigan. The previous crop at each location was soybean with the one exception of Saginaw in 1998, where the previous crop was corn. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block with a split-split plot arrangement with four replications. The hybrid represented the whole plot, row width represented the split-plot, and plant density represented the split-split plot.

Corn was planted in 3 by 12 m plots with a mechanical planter configured to plant in 76-, 56-, and 38-cm row widths. Tractor wheel spacing was adjusted so wheel tracks did not interfere with planted rows. Within each row width, hybrids were over planted to establish five target plant densities of 56000, 65000, 73000, 81000, and 90000 plants ha-1. Viable plant density was determined after corn emergence and plots were hand-thinned if plant density exceeded target levels for the plot. The middle rows of each plot were harvested for yield to allow one border row on each side of the plot. In the 76-cm rows, the two center rows were harvested, while in the 56- and 38-cm plots, three and five rows were harvested, respectively.

The experimental site locations were divided into central and southern corn maturity zones (Table 1). The Saginaw, Ingham, and Huron locations were included in the central corn maturity zone and the Monroe, Calhoun, and Kalamazoo locations were included in the southern corn maturity zone. Six hybrids were chosen to match the varying maturity zone and agronomic characteristics of the selected locations. Of these six hybrids, four were selected for each maturity zone (Table 2). The two earliest hybrids were used in the central zone along with the two medium-maturing hybrids. The same medium-maturing hybrids were also used in the southern zone along with two later-maturing, full-season hybrids (Table 2).


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  		Table 1. Planting and harvest dates by location.

 

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  		Table 2. Hybrid maturity and agronomic characteristics. Hybrids are listed in order of relative maturity.

 
Lodging observations were recorded before harvest. Plants were considered lodged if corn stalks were broken below the ear. The percent lodging was calculated based upon the total number of plants per plot.

Plots were harvested mechanically with grain harvester heads custom built to match each of the three row widths. The 1998 Huron location was not harvested due to extremely poor corn emergence in the spring, resulting in plant density levels below established thresholds. Moisture content and field weights were automatically measured by a GrainGage linked to a HarvestData System (Juniper Systems, Logan UT) mounted on a plot combine. Grain yields are reported at 155 g kg-1 moisture. Test weights were also recorded and reported at harvest moisture.

All data were analyzed with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Mixed Linear Model in SAS Statistical Software Package version 6.12 (SAS Inst., 1990). The Mixed Linear Model is able to calculate the appropriate error terms for tests associated with the split-split plot design. Experimental locations and all interactions involving locations were considered random effects. Corn hybrids, row width, plant density, and the respective interactions were considered fixed effects. Mean separation between variables was obtained by Tukey's Least Significant Difference test. Effects were considered significant in all statistical calculations if P values < 0.05.


   RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS
 REFERENCES
 
The range of accumulated growing degree units (GDU) over locations for 1998 was 154 to 329 GDU above normal. The 1999 season ranged from 110 GDU to 183 GDU above the 30-yr average. Precipitation levels for the 1998 and 1999 growing season were 8.0 and 7.1 cm below the 30-yr average. Precipitation ranged from 17.3 cm below average at the Saginaw location to 2.6 cm above average at the Calhoun location in 1998. In 1999, precipitation ranged from 15.6 cm below at the Monroe location to 4.4 cm above the 30-yr mean at the Huron location. Statewide average corn grain yields in Michigan were 6964 and 8156 kg ha-1 for the 1998 and 1999 growing seasons (Michigan Agric. Statistics, 2000, p. 31–34), respectively.

Row width was inversely correlated with grain yield (Table 3). Corn grain yield increased 2% when row width was narrowed from 76 to 56 cm and 4% when row width was narrowed from 76 to 38 cm. This gain in yield is less than the 7.2 and 8.5% increase reported by Porter et al. (1997), but slightly greater than the 2.7% reported by Nielsen (1988). The six hybrids selected for this study varied in maturity, ear type, height, and leaf orientation (Table 2). The hybrid effect was highly significant for grain yield, moisture, test weight, and stalk lodging (Table 4). However consistent with both Nielsen (1988) and Porter et al. (1997), there was no hybrid x row width interaction. This suggests that relative hybrid performance will not vary significantly between conventional 76-cm row width cropping systems and narrow row systems. Additionally, there was no significant interaction between plant density and row width on grain yield. This is consistent with the results reported by Nielsen (1988) and Farnham (2001), who did not observe a plant density x row width interaction, and by Porter et al. (1997), who did not observe a plant density x row width interaction at two of three locations evaluated. From this, it may be concluded that grain yield will increase similarly when row width is narrowed across the range of plant density levels commonly used in the Corn Belt.


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  		Table 3. Row width effect on corn grain yield, grain moisture, and stalk lodging averaged across hybrid, plant density, location, replication, and year. Each value is the mean of 880 observations.

 

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  		Table 4. 1998 and 1999 summary of combined ANOVA probability values for grain yield, grain moisture, test weight, and stalk lodging.

 
Grain moisture at harvest was dependent on the hybrid (Table 4). Grain moisture decreased from 196 to 192 g kg-1 when row width was narrowed from 76 cm to 56 and 38 cm (Table 3). Although this decrease in grain moisture with narrow row systems was small, it results in a potential savings of $1.80 to $5.45 ha-1 for an 11550 kg ha-1 yield based on local energy costs. Row width did not affect grain test weight. The lack of a grain test weight response to row width confirms the observations of Porter et al. (1997).

When row width was narrowed from 76 to 56 cm, the percentage of stalk lodging increased slightly. However, there was no difference in stalk lodging between the corn planted in 76-cm rows and that planted in the 38-cm row width (Table 3). Nielsen (1988) reported increased stalk lodging when row width was narrowed from 76 to 38 cm. However, Hoff and Mederski (1960) did not observe an increase in stalk lodging when corn row width was narrowed from 107 to 41 cm. The observed increase in stalk lodging when row width was narrowed from 76 to 56 cm, though statistically significant in the experimental setting, is small and would likely have minimal economic effect in a field-scale grain production system.

Plant density had a significant effect on grain yield, moisture, test weight, and stalk lodging (Table 4). The highest plant density level evaluated (90000 plants ha-1) resulted in the highest grain yield (Table 5). This suggests that the highest plant density evaluated (90000 plants ha-1) may have been too low to establish the true maximum yield plant density for this study. This contrasts with the findings of Nielsen (1988), who found the 90000 plant ha-1 plant density level was greater than optimum for the conditions at three locations evaluated in Indiana. Porter et al. (1997) reported inconsistent optimal plant density levels ranging from 86000 to 101270 plants ha-1 for corn grain yield across three Minnesota locations. As plant density increased from lowest to highest, grain moisture decreased from 197 to 192 g kg-1. Grain test weight increased negligibly as plant density increased. This contradicts the observations of Porter et al. (1997), who observed a trend for decreased grain test weight as plant density was increased. A significant hybrid x plant density interaction was observed for grain yield and grain moisture (Table 4). However, with regard to yield, the plant density interaction was found to be nonsignificant (data not shown) for the hybrid characteristics listed in Table 2, including relative maturity, ear type, plant height, and leaf orientation. Therefore, the significant hybrid x plant density interaction on grain yield appeared to be due to differences in the hybrids other than these four characteristics. The observed hybrid x plant density interaction on grain moisture appeared to be due to differences in hybrid relative maturity (Table 6). All hybrids, regardless of relative maturity, were planted and harvested on the same day at a given location (Table 1). This provides the basis for the observed hybrid x plant density interaction on grain moisture. Grain moisture levels from the early maturing hybrids decreased as plant density increased. Conversely, the later maturing, full-season hybrids had relatively less time to field-dry following physiological maturity. As a result, the later maturing, full-season hybrids had consistently high grain moisture levels across all plant density levels. Therefore, in the Northern Corn Belt, where the length of the corn growing season may be limited, early maturing hybrids are more likely to exhibit lower grain moisture levels at higher plant density levels. Porter et al. (1997) reported a hybrid x plant density interaction for grain moisture at two of three locations evaluated. However, the authors did not observe a hybrid x plant density interaction for grain yield.


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  		Table 5. Plant density effect on corn grain yield, grain moisture, grain test weight, and stalk lodging averaged across hybrid, row width, location, replication, and year. Each value is the mean of 880 observations.

 

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  		Table 6. Effect of plant density and relative hybrid maturity on grain moisture at harvest. Means are averaged across hybrid, row width, location, replication, and year.

 

   CONCLUSIONS
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
 
Average corn grain yield increased 2 and 4% when row width was narrowed from 76 cm to 56 and 38 cm over the 2 yr and 11 locations of this study. Corn grain harvest moisture decreased by a factor of 2.1% when row width was narrowed similarly. The decrease in grain moisture at harvest was small but statistically significant over the scope of the study and suggests a modest potential savings in grain drying costs with narrow row corn systems. Plant density affected grain yield, moisture, test weight, and stalk lodging. The highest plant density evaluated, 90000 plants ha-1, had the highest grain yield. A plant density x hybrid interaction was observed. Grain moisture decreased for early maturing hybrids as plant density increased, but moisture levels were consistently high across all plant density levels for the later maturing hybrids. A hybrid x row width interaction was not observed, indicating hybrids that yield well in conventional 76-cm row systems will also yield well in narrow row systems. Similarly, a plant density x row width interaction was not observed, which suggests the increased yield effect observed with narrow row systems will generally occur across the range of plant densities commonly used by growers in the northern Corn Belt.


   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 
The authors thank the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan for financial support of the project. We also thank the Michigan State University Agricultural Weather Office for assistance in procuring the weather data.


   REFERENCES
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 REFERENCES
 




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