International Journal of AgronomyVolume 2012 (2012), Article ID 925408, 10 pagesdoi:10.1155/2012/925408

Research Article

Corn Hybrid Response to Water Management Practices on Claypan Soil

Kelly A. Nelson1,2 and Randall L. Smoot²

¹Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Novelty, MO 63460, USA²Greenley Research Center, University of Missouri, P.O. Box 126, Novelty, MO 63460, USA

Received 19 January 2012; Revised 17 February 2012; Accepted 4 March 2012

Academic Editor: Bernd Lennartz

Copyright © 2012 Kelly A. Nelson and Randall L. Smoot. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

A study evaluated corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids (Asgrow785, DKC61-73, DKC63-42, LG2642, and Kruger2114) and water management systems (nondrained, nonirrigated (NDNI); drained, nonirrigated (DNI) with subsurface drain tiles 6.1 and 12.2 m apart; drained plus subirrigated (DSI) with tiles 6.1 and 12.2 m apart; nondrained, overhead irrigated (NDOHI)) on yields, plant population, and grain quality from 2008 to 2010. Precipitation during this study was 36 to 283 mm above the past decade. Planting date was delayed 18 d in the nondrained control in 2009, and additional delayed planting controls were included this year. Grain yields were similar in the 6.1- and 12.2 m-spaced DNI and DSI systems in 2008 and 2010, but plant population increased 74% and yields were 3.1 Mg ha⁻¹ greater with DSI at a 6.1 m spacing compared to 12.2 m in 2009. At a 6.1 m spacing, DNI or DSI increased yield 1.1 to 6.6 Mg ha⁻¹ (10 to over 50%) compared to NDNI or NDOHI soil. High yielding hybrids achieved similar yields with DNI, while NDNI DKC63-42 had 1.2 Mg ha⁻¹ greater yields compared to DKC61-73. A 6.1 m spacing for DNI claypan soils is recommended for high yielding corn production.

1. Introduction

Within-season climate variability is a primary factor affecting corn yields in Missouri [1]. Although Midwestern farmers have been planting up to two weeks earlier than in the 1980s [2], recommendations for initiating planting continue to be based on field conditions and soil temperature [3]. Soils that are cool and wet can delay planting. Adequate soil drainage helps soils dry and warm quickly. The distribution of rainfall in upstate Missouri generally peaks in mid-April to mid-May, with periods of drought and little water available to plants in late June, July, and early August [4–7]. Drought conditions during July and August are usually yield limiting in claypan soils, due to their low water-holding capacity [1, 4, 8]. However, these soils’ poor drainage may contribute to excessive yield loss, due to stand loss, fertilizer loss, and poor root development [4, 6, 8–10].

Several studies have evaluated corn response to drainage water management systems [11–14], interactions between drainage and nitrogen management [15–17], and the impacts of drainage on water quality [18–21]. Other studies have evaluated the effects of drainage and overhead irrigation on yield response of corn in a claypan soil in Southern Illinois [22–24]. Corn yields synergistically increased 4.8 Mg ha⁻¹ with overhead irrigation and subsurface drainage [24]. In dry years, drainage plus subirrigation increased 3-year average yields 23% over drainage only in dry years [25] and conserved water compared to overhead irrigation systems [6]. In wet years, these conditions produced limited yield increases [6, 25]. Soybean cultivar yield response to drainage plus subirrigation systems has been reported in Ohio [26] and Missouri [27]. But no known research has evaluated the interaction between corn hybrids and drainage water management systems at different drain tile spacings. Subsurface drains in claypan soils at 15-m spacings were reported to remove from 41 to 47% of the excess rainfall [23]. Simulations in a claypan soil indicated the need for 6-m drain tile lateral spacing for subirrigation, though the system’s drainage component limited the lateral spacing [28]. However, little verification research has been conducted in corn [6], especially during extremely wet years. This research evaluated corn yield, plant population, and grain quality response to drainage only or drainage plus subirrigation at 6.1 and 12.2 m spacings and high yielding hybrids.

2. Materials and Methods

This study used drainage and irrigation plots at MU’s Drainage and Subirrigation (MUDS) site located near the University of Missouri Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Center on the Ross Jones farm (39°56′N, 92°3′W) near Bethel, MO, from 2008 to 2010. The site has been previously described [6, 27, 29, 30]. The soil was a Putnam silt loam (fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Albaqaulfs) with poor drainage, slope of less than 1%, and a Bt horizon with a claypan at a depth of approximately 51 cm. The drainage and drainage-plus-subirrigation systems were installed in 2001. Drain tiles (7.6 cm diameter) were installed 60 cm deep at 0.15% slope with a minimum flow velocity of 43 cm sec⁻¹ and a drainage coefficient of 1.3 cm 24 h⁻¹.

The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design with four replications (Figure 1). The main plot was water management system (nondrained, nonirrigated (NDNI); nondrained, overhead irrigated (NDOHI); drained, nonirrigated at 6.1 m drain spacing (DNI 6); drained, nonirrigated at 12.2 m drain spacing (DNI 12); drained, subirrigated at 6.1 m drain spacing (DSI 6); drained, subirrigated at 12.2 m drain spacing (DSI 12)), and subplots were hybrids (Asgrow785, DKC61-73, DKC63-42, LG2642, and Kruger2114). Subplots were randomized above and between the drain tiles in 3 by 9.1 m plots. The total number of plots was 30 in 2008 and 2010. Soil conditions in 2009 were favorable for planting in the DNI and DSI treatments on 24 Apr. Soil conditions were poor for tillage and planting in the nondrained control, but half of the plot area was planted to avoid confounding results due to a delayed planting date. The delayed planting control treatments were denoted as nondrained, nonirrigated, and delayed planting (NDNIDP) and overhead irrigated, nondrained, and delayed planting (NDOHIDP), which increased the total number of plots to 40. Rainfall following planting was intense and extensive (Figure 2(b)). As a result, planting of the NDNIDP and NDOHIDP treatments was delayed 18 days. The corn hybrids were selected from among the region’s high yielding hybrids [31]. In the subsurface-drained and subirrigated treatments, three subsurface drain tile laterals were spaced 6.1 m apart, and two subsurface drain tile laterals were spaced 12.2 m apart (Figure 1). They were operated as DNI or DSI. The subirrigation system’s water level control devices (AgriDrain, Adair, IA) managed water depth and limited water flow during the winter months as a best management practice to reduce NO₃-N loss [13].

Figure 1: Split-plot design at the MUDS site. A representative subplot randomization above and between tile lines was represented by the insert for drainage plus subirrigation (DSI 6) at a 6.1 m spacing. The boxes with different colors represent five different hybrids randomly planted in 3 by 9.1 m plots above and between the tile lines. In 2009, the nondrained, nonirrigated (NDNI) and nondrained, overhead irrigated (NDOHI) controls were split to include a delayed planting (DP) treatment to avoid confounding planting dates between systems. Corn plots in 2008 and 2010 were rotated to soybean, and soybean plots were rotated into corn in 2009.

(a) 2008

(b) 2009

(c) 2010

Figure 2: Daily (bars) and cumulative (line) precipitation for nonirrigated treatments in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, and (c) 2010. The solid line starts at the time when corn was planted.

The site was in a corn-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation, with corn and soybean present each year (Figure 1). Corn production utilized conventional or reduced tillage in the fall or spring before planting (Table 1), while the soybean crop was no-till planted. Corn was planted (John Deere 7000, Moline, IL) in 75-cm-wide rows at 79,000 seeds ha⁻¹ in 2008 and 81,500 seeds ha⁻¹ in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, half of the nondrained control was planted on 24 Apr. 2009 and the other half was planted on 12 May due to extremely wet soil conditions in the nondrained control (Figure 1) and nearly complete stand loss in the early planting date. This prevented confounding results due to planting date this year. All plots received broadcast applications of N-P₂O₅-K₂O (Table 1) based on University of Missouri soil test recommendations in 2008, but no P and K fertilizer was applied for the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons due to wet soil conditions. Soil test P and K was high [32] in 2009 and 2010 (data not presented). Corn management practices are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: Soil organic matter and pH from 0 to 15 cm and corn management practices in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Soil and site management practices†
2008
2009
2010

Soil test values

    Soil organic matter (g kg⁻¹)
18 ± 1‡
21 ± 1
22 ± 1

    pH (0.01M CaCl₂)
6.6 ± 0.05
6.9 ± 0.1
6.7 ± 0.3

Fertilizer (N-P₂O₅-K₂O kg ha⁻¹)

    34-90-180
26 Nov. 2007
NA
NA

    200-0-0 as anhydrous ammonia
1 May
8 Apr.
27 May

Tillage (date)
Chisel plow (25 Nov. 2007)

Tilloll§ (2 May)
Tilloll (23 Apr.)
Tilloll (19 and 20 May)

Planting date
5 May
24 Apr.
28 May

    Nondrained, nonirrigated delayed planting

12 May

Weed control¶

Timing, date
EPOST, 29 May
EPOST, 21 May
PRE, 30 May

    Herbicide (rate)
Glyphosate (0.84 kg ae ha⁻¹) + DAS (20 g L⁻¹) + premixture of atrazine + S-metolachlor + mesotrione (3.3 kg ai ha⁻¹)
glyphosate (0.84 kg ae ha⁻¹) + premixture of atrazine + dimethenamid-P (3.5 kg ai ha⁻¹)
Saflufenacil (0.025 kg ai ha⁻¹) + glyphosate (0.84 kg ae ha⁻¹)

Timing, date

POST, 25 June
POST, 22 June

    Herbicide (rate)

Glyphosate (1.2 kg ae ha⁻¹) + DAS (20 g L⁻¹)
Premixture of acetochlor + atrazine (5 kg ai ha⁻¹)

Timing, date

LPOST, 29 June

    Herbicide (rate)

Glyphosate (0.84 kg ae ha⁻¹) + DAS (20 g L⁻¹)

†Abbreviations: EPOST: early postemergence; DAS: diammonium sulfate; LPOST: late postemergence; NA: none applied; PRE: preemergence.

‡Standard deviation.

§Tilloll 875, Marysville, KS.

¶Herbicide chemical names: acetochlor: (2-chloro-2′-methyl-6′-ethyl-N-ethoxymethylacetanilide); atrazine: (6-chloro-N-ethyl--(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine); dimethenamid-P: (2-chloro-N-[(1-methyl-2-methoxy)ethyl]-N-(2,4-dimethyl-thien-3-yl)-acetamide); glyphosate: (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine); mesotrione: (2-[4-(methylsulfonyl)-2-nitrobenzoyl]-1,3-cyclohexanedione); S-metolachlor: (2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide); saflufenacil: (-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3,6-dihydro-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl)benzoyl]-N-isopropyl-N-methylsulfamide).

Overhead irrigation application times and amounts were based on the Woodruff scheduling chart [33]. Drainage water management, irrigation dates and amounts are summarized in Table 2. Total cumulative rainfall was 821 mm in 2008, 655 mm in 2009, and 574 mm in 2010 (Figure 2). This exceeded the region’s May–September precipitation average of 538 mm during the past decade [7]. High yielding corn from 1895 to 1998 typically had rainfall of approximately 633 mm [1]. In this research, supplemental irrigation totaled 108 mm in 2008, 92 mm in 2009, and 0 mm in 2010 (Table 2). Irrigation scheduling was difficult during this “wet” study because overapplication of water could risk fertilizer loss generally as denitrification and root damage on poorly drained claypan soils [6, 8, 34]. That situation may require rescue N applications [35]. However, anhydrous ammonia was used at a rate that averted the possibility of N being limiting (Table 1).

Table 2: Drainage and irrigation water management schedule by year.

Water management schedule
2008
2009
2010

Drainage mode
15 Mar.
15 Mar.
15 Mar.

Controlled drainage date
17 July
25 June
6 July

Subirrigation date
17 July–25 July, 4 Aug.–15 Sep.
25 June–16 Sep.
2 Aug.–10 Sep.

Drainage mode
25 July–4 Aug., 15 Sep.
16 Sep.
10 Sep.–29 Oct.

Controlled drainage
15 Nov.
22 Nov.
29 Oct.

18 July, 13 mm
1 July, 34 mm
None applied

Overhead irrigation dates and amounts
8 Aug., 43 mm
20 July, 21 mm

19 Aug., 32 mm
30 July, 25 mm

28 Aug., 20 mm
6 Aug., 12 mm

Plant height was measured 42 d after planting in 2009 but not in 2008 and 2010 because treatments showed no differences by visual observation. Plant population was determined before harvest each year by counting a plot length of one harvested row. A plot combine (Kincaid Equipment, Haven, KS in 2008 and Wintersteiger Delta, Salt Lake City, UT in 2009 and 2010) was used to harvest grain and determine its moisture. Grain yield moisture was adjusted to 150 g kg⁻¹ before analysis. Grain samples were collected and ten subsamples were analyzed for oil, protein, starch, and extractable starch with a Foss 1241 (Eden Prairie, MN) near infrared spectrometer similar to other research [5, 36] using previously established calibrations [37–39]. Grain samples with symptoms of diplodia (Stenocarpella maydis) [40], confirmed with the University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic, were quantified as the number of grains in the harvested sample of 100 seeds and converted to a percentage of seeds with the disease [36].

The effect of water management system and hybrid was subjected to an ANOVA using PROC GLM [41]. Since planting date was delayed in 2009 and plant populations were reduced over 70% in the NDNI control compared to DNI or DSI at a 6.1 m spacing, data for this year were presented separately (Tables 3 and 4). Data from 2008 and 2010 were combined because there was no delay in planting date among treatments and only minimal interactions between years (Tables 5 and 6). Interactions were presented when significant. Main effects were presented in the absence of a significant ( or 0.05) drainage water management system × hybrid interaction. Means were separated using Fisher’s Protected LSD at or 0.05.

Table 3: ANOVA table of water management (WM) and corn hybrid treatments for height, plant population, grain moisture, yield, and diplodia in 2009.

Source

Height
Population
Moisture
Yield
Diplodia

df
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F

Rep
3
2.9
0.035
0.5
0.687
1.7
0.162
0.6
0.646
24.0
<0.0001

WM
7
13.1
<0.0001
27.4
<0.0001
3.1
0.016
12.0
<0.0001
4.0
0.004

Rep × WM
21
2.9
<0.0001
3.1
<0.0001
1.8
0.025
1.4
0.138
5.5
<0.0001

Hybrid
4
0.6
0.669
0.6
0.644
0.3
0.909
1.3
0.275
13.3
<0.0001

WM × hybrid
28
1.7
0.012
1.0
0.454
1.6
0.028
1.2
0.205
0.9
0.650

Table 4: ANOVA table of water management (WM) and corn hybrid treatments for grain oil, protein, starch, and extractable starch concentration in 2009.

Source

Oil
Protein
Starch
Extractable starch

df
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F

Rep
3
4.3
0.006
7.2
0.0001
0.5
0.678
14.6
<0.0001

WM
7
5.6
0.0004
14.6
<0.0001
1.4
0.238
6.6
0.0001

Rep × WM
21
2.3
0.001
6.9
<0.0001
0.7
0.850
3.8
<0.0001

Hybrid
4
6.9
<0.0001
13.0
<0.0001
0.2
0.938
22.6
<0.0001

WM × hybrid
28
1.0
0.533
1.0
0.457
0.6
0.962
1.3
0.183

Table 5: ANOVA table of water management (WM) and corn hybrid treatments for plant population, grain moisture, yield, and diplodia in 2008 and 2010.

Source

Population
Moisture
Yield
Diplodia

df
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F

Year
1
94.4
<0.0001
578.4
<0.0001
0.8
0.38
151.1
<0.0001

Year × rep
6
1.0
0.449
0.5
0.801
2.6
0.049
0.8
0.544

WM
5
0.8
0.571
3.9
0.008
1.9
0.116
1.0
0.463

Year × WM
5
5.3
<0.0001
15.7
<0.0001
15.8
<0.0001
6.9
<0.0001

Year × rep × WM
30
6.7
<0.0001
4.1
<0.0001
8.1
<0.0001
7.2
<0.0001

Hybrid
4
3.8
0.005
205.4
<0.0001
11.8
<0.0001
15.2
<0.0001

Year × hybrid
4
4.0
0.003
7.3
<0.0001
2.1
0.081
13.0
<0.0001

WM × hybrid
20
1.3
0.159
1.5
0.094
2.2
0.001
1.2
0.277

Year × WM × hybrid
20
0.8
0.668
0.5
0.965
1.1
0.382
1.1
0.304

Table 6: ANOVA table of water management (WM) and corn hybrid treatments for grain oil, protein, starch, and extractable starch concentration in 2008 and 2010.

Source

Oil
Protein
Starch
Extractable starch

df
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F
F-value
Pr > F

Year
1
17.3
0.0002
0.1
0.776
76.1
<0.0001
14.5
0.0006

Year × rep
6
0.55
0.737
1.5
0.235
1.3
0.310
0.7
0.631

WM
5
0.83
0.540
2.0
0.111
2.2
0.079
1.8
0.144

Year × WM
5
1.2
0.307
11.5
<0.0001
7.9
<0.0001
8.8
<0.0001

Year × rep × WM
30
1.5
0.058
5.8
<0.0001
3.6
<0.0001
4.9
<0.0001

Hybrid
4
142.2
<0.0001
32.3
<0.0001
21.8
<0.0001
62.6
<0.0001

Year × hybrid
4
18.6
<0.0001
1.4
0.226
9.6
<0.0001
10.2
<0.0001

WM × hybrid
20
1.9
0.011
1.1
0.306
1.5
0.089
1.1
0.382

Year × WM × hybrid
20
0.7
0.791
0.8
0.774
1.0
0.422
0.5
0.951

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Delayed Planting (2009)

Corn plant height 42 d after planting was affected () by drainage water management and hybrid selection (Table 7). In general, the tallest plants were in the DNI and DSI at 6.1 m spacing. However, corn height for drainage or DSI 6 was similar to DSI 12, except for Asgrow785 planted into DSI 12. Although the NDNIDP was planted 18 d later, heights were similar to the early planted nondrained corn. These data indicated better growing conditions for plants in the DNI and DSI treatments compared to their NDNI and NDOHI counterparts. This was evident in final plant population at harvest (Table 8). Nearly all plants in the NDNI or NDOHI controls were eliminated by early wet conditions. DSI 6 had 74% greater plant population than DSI 12, due to the closer spacing’s more efficient drainage. Typically, a delay in planting date results in a lower yield, but in a wet year it was beneficial to wait until the seedbed dried adequately to establish plants well.

Table 7: Effects of water management and hybrid interaction on plant heights 42 d after 24 April planting date in 2009.

Water management system
DKC63-42
LG2642
Asgrow785
Kruger2114
DKC61-73

cm

Nondrained, nonirrigated (NDNI)
28
36
28
67
53

Nondrained, nonirrigated, delayed planting (NDNIDP)
41
53
46
53
50

Drained, nonirrigated (DNI) at 6.1 m
82
77
73
73
86

Drained, nonirrigated (DNI) at 12.2 m
59
65
61
54
66

Drained plus subirrigated (DSI) at 6.1 m
77
76
60
72
78

Drained plus subirrigated (DSI) at 12.2 m
53
60
49
58
40

Overhead irrigated, nondrained (NDOHI)
49
24
45
28
34

Overhead irrigated, nondrained, delayed planting (NDOHIDP)
43
49
50
46
49

LSD (P = 0.05)

30

Table 8: Water management main effects for plant population before harvest and grain yield, moisture, diplodia, oil, protein, starch, and extractable starch in 2009.

Water management system
Plant population
Yield
Moisture
Diplodia
Oil
Protein
Starch
Extractable starch

No. ha⁻¹
Mg ha⁻¹
g kg⁻¹
%
g kg⁻¹
g kg⁻¹
g kg⁻¹
g kg⁻¹

Nondrained, nonirrigated (NDNI)
13,600
4.5
14.5
21
41.3
95.2
711
657

Nondrained, nonirrigated, delayed planting (NDNIDP)
55,600
14.4
19.3
8
43.2
89.4
709
662

Drained, nonirrigated (DNI) at 6.1 m
47,400
9.2
17.1
23
39.8
94.4
714
660

Drained, nonirrigated (DNI) at 12.2 m
33,800
7.6
15.3
21
39.8
95.0
702
659

Drained plus subirrigated (DSI) at 6.1 m
45,200
9.8
17.6
18
39.8
92.9
713
661

Drained plus subirrigated (DSI) at 12.2 m
25,900
6.7
14.6
20
40.0
95.9
712
657

Overhead irrigated, nondrained (NDOHI)
6,700
2.6
13.5
15
41.9
85.2
716
673

Overhead irrigated, nondrained, delayed planting (NDOHIDP)
54,300
12.8
19.4
9
40.6
86.4
714
673

LSD (P = 0.05)
17,800
3.0
3.9
9
2.2
7.7
NS
11

Grain yield was ranked . Differences in drain tile spacing were probably due to lateral flow limitations caused by the claypan [23]. DNI 6, DSI 6, and DNI 12 increased yield from 4.7 to 7.2 Mg ha⁻¹ compared to the nondrained (NDNI and NDOHI) controls. Subsurface drain tiles in a claypan soil in central Missouri at a 15.3 m spacing removed from 41% to 47% of excess precipitation [23]. Overhead irrigation or subirrigation appeared to decrease yield, though it was not significantly different than appropriate nonirrigated controls in 2009 with its high rainfall that made scheduling difficult. This scenario has been common in other water management research on claypan soils [6, 8, 23]. Sustained rainfall throughout the summer months allowed the DNIDP and NDOHIDP controls to produce high yields (>12 Mg ha⁻¹), which is atypical for these soils. In general, grain moisture was higher and diplodia was lower with late-planted NDNIDP and NDOHIDP corn.

Oil and protein concentrations usually are inversely related [39]. The NDNIDP had the highest oil (43.2 g kg⁻¹) concentration, and delayed planting controls had the lowest protein (85.2 to 86.4 g kg⁻¹) concentration (Table 8). Water management did not affect starch concentration, but extractable starch was highest (673 g kg⁻¹) in the overhead-irrigated controls. The effect of water management on grain quality was due primarily to planting date and differences in population at harvest. In a year with consistent summer rainfall, stand establishment was essential for high yielding corn.

Since no interaction between drainage water management and high yielding hybrid was detected in 2009 (Tables 3 and 4), main effects for hybrid are presented in Table 9. Plant populations were low (<38,000 plants ha⁻¹), but no differences were found in plant population, moisture, yield, and starch concentration among hybrids (Tables 3 and 4). Grain with diplodia, which was due to hybrid differences, ranged from 8% for LG2642 to 33% for Kruger2114. Oil concentration was greatest with LG2642 (41.7 g kg⁻¹) and DKC63-42 (40.9 g kg⁻¹). Protein concentration 98.4 g kg⁻¹ with Kruger2114 and 89.6 g kg⁻¹ with LG2642.

Table 9: Hybrid main effects for grain diplodia, oil, protein, and extractable starch in 2009.

Hybrid
Diplodia
Oil
Protein
Extractable starch

%
g kg⁻¹
g kg⁻¹
g kg⁻¹

DKC63-42
23
40.9
94.3
660

LG2642
8
41.7
89.6
668

Asgrow785
15
39.6
90.7
669

Kruger2114
33
39.3
98.4
645

DKC61-73
17
39.7
95.3
661

LSD (P = 0.05)
5
0.9
1.8
3

3.2. No Delayed Planting (2008 and 2010)

Data were pooled over 2008 and 2010 since no significant three-way interactions (year × water management × hybrid) were detected for dependent variables (Tables 5 and 6). In 2008 and 2010, grain yield was 9.9 to 11.1 Mg ha⁻¹ in the NDNI control with DKC63-42 yielding 1.2 Mg ha⁻¹ greater than DKC61-73 (Table 10). When compared to the NDNI control, DNI at 6.1 m increased yield of all hybrids from 1.1 to 2.2 Mg ha⁻¹. At a 12.2 m spacing, grain yield increased with Asgrow785 and DKC61-73 1.1 and 1.3 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively. This indicates either that DKC61-73 was more susceptible to water stress or that with appropriate drainage it could reach its production potential more so than other hybrids. None of the DSI treatments affected yield compared to the NDNI except DKC61-73 at 6.1 m, indicating that the subirrigation should have remained in drainage mode throughout the season for optimal crop production. Similarly, overhead irrigation had no effect on yield in extremely wet years similar to 2009.

Table 10: Corn grain yield, moisture, oil, and protein response to water management systems and hybrid in 2008 and 2010. Data were combined over years.

Water management system†
Hybrid
Yield
Moisture
Oil
Starch

Mg ha⁻¹
g kg⁻¹
g kg⁻¹
g kg⁻¹

DKC63-42
11.1
167
41.3
725

LG2642
10.8
179
43.8
721

NDNI
Asgrow785
10.5
158
39.5
727

Kruger2114
10.3
175
41.6
733

DKC61-73
9.9
155
39.0
725

DKC63-42
12.2
160
41.7
724

LG2642
11.7
178
43.4
720

DNI 6
Asgrow785
12.1
155
37.7
729

Kruger2114
11.2
174
41.9
723

DKC61-73
12.1
151
39.3
722

DKC63-42
11.7
164
42.0
725

LG2642
11.8
181
43.8
720

DNI 12
Asgrow785
11.6
154
38.7
727

Kruger2114
11.2
179
41.6
723

DKC61-73
11.2
152
38.3
725

DKC63-42
11.6
166
41.9
724

LG2642
11.1
175
43.2
722

DSI 6
Asgrow785
11.0
157
40.2
726

Kruger2114
10.5
174
40.8
728

DKC61-73
10.8
149
38.2
727

DKC63-42
12.1
168
41.5
726

LG2642
11.1
177
43.5
722

DSI 12
Asgrow785
10.7
153
38.3
730

Kruger2114
11.1
177
41.6
726

DKC61-73
10.4
151
37.9
727

DKC63-42
10.7
163
42.7
724

LG2642
11.4
175
43.5
723

NDOHI
Asgrow785
11.0
156
38.3
729

Kruger2114
10.6
172
42.7
724

DKC61-73
10.2
153
37.3
728

LSD

1.1‡
8§
2.1‡
5§

†Abbreviations: DNI 6: drained, nonirrigated (6.1 m drain spacing); DNI 12: drained, nonirrigated (12.2 m drain spacing); DSI 6: drained, subirrigated (6.1 m drain spacing); DSI 12: drained, subirrigated (12.2 m drain spacing), NDNI: nondrained, nonirrigated; NDOHI: nondrained, overhead irrigated.

‡.

§.

Grain moisture with Asgrow 785 and DKC61-73 was generally drier than the other hybrids regardless of the drainage system (Table 10). DSI 12 increased grain moisture by 8 g kg⁻¹ compared to DNI 6. The greatest disparity in grain moisture among hybrids was between DNI 6 and DNI 12 compared to the other water management systems. Although a significant interaction emerged between drainage water management and hybrid for oil and starch concentration (Table 6), there were no consistent effects of drainage water management on oil and starch concentrations (Table 10). This was consistent with research evaluating soybean grain quality response to drainage water management [27, 29], while Wiersma et al. [42] showed a 6 g kg⁻¹ increase in protein concentration as the drainage coefficient increased to 2 cm day⁻¹. There was no effect of drainage water management on harvested plant population (from 63,000 to 67,700 plants ha⁻¹), diplodia (8–10%), protein (76.1–80.2 g kg⁻¹), or extractable starch (682–687 g kg⁻¹) concentration, although differences between years were detected (Table 6).

Plant population at harvest was similar among hybrids in 2008. However, DKC63-42 had 2,500–5,000 plants ha⁻¹ greater than the other hybrids (Table 11), which could have contributed toward higher overall yields in the NDNI, DNI 6, DSI 6, and DSI 12 treatments compared to the other hybrids (Table 10). Grain with diplodia symptoms was inconsistent between hybrids in 2008 and 2010 (Table 11). Diplodia was greatest in both years with DKC63-42 and DKC61-73 and lowest in both years with LG2642 and Kruger2114. Protein concentration in those years was from 74.8 to 81.4 g kg⁻¹, which was from 13.9 to 19.7 g kg⁻¹ less than 2009. Extractable starch was greatest with Asgrow785 and lowest with Kruger2114. Similarly, differences in soybean oil concentration depended more on the soybean cultivar than on water management [27].

Table 11: Hybrid main effects for plant population before harvest, diplodia, protein, and extractable starch in 2008 and 2010. Data were combined over years in the absence of an interaction.

Plant population
Diplodia

Extractable starch

Hybrid
2008
2010
2008
2010
Protein

no.  ha⁻¹
%
g kg⁻¹
g kg⁻¹

DKC63-42
71,600
63,000
15
3
78.0
686

LG2642
71,900
60,300
13
1
74.8
686

Asgrow785
71,100
60,500
12
3
75.1
693

Kruger2114
71,900
58,000
14
1
78.7
673

DKC61-73
70,900
59,500
19
3
81.4
686

LSD (P = 0.05)
NS
2,200
2
1
1.2
2

4. Conclusion

In three wet years, DNI 6 increased yield from 1.1 to 6.6 Mg ha⁻¹ compared to the nondrained (NDNI or NDOHI) controls. In 2009, the NDNIDP control yields were from 4.6 to 5.2 Mg ha⁻¹ greater than DNI or DSI, due to an even distribution of summer rains. Grain yields were similar in the 6.1- and 12.2 m-spaced DNI and DSI systems in 2008 and 2010, but plant population increased 74% and yields were 3.1 Mg ha⁻¹ greater with DSI 6 compared to DSI 12 in 2009. In this study, drainage helped hybrids increase yields from 10% to over 50% in years with high rainfall. Differences among hybrids may be due to their tolerance of saturated conditions. Corn hybrids achieved their yield potential when adequate drainage was provided, and some hybrids had greater wetness tolerance compared to others. Some high yielding hybrids tested in this study reached a higher yield potential using drainage water management systems versus nondrained soil. Drainage is an important component of high yielding corn production systems.

Nomenclature

Corn:
Zea mays L. “Asgrow785,” “DKC61-73,” “DKC63-42,” “LG2642,” “Kruger2114”.

Abbreviations

DNI 6: | Drained, nonirrigated (6.1 m drain spacing)
DNI 12: | Drained, nonirrigated (12.2 m drain spacing)
DSI 6: | Drained, subirrigated (6.1 m drain spacing)
DSI 12: | Drained, subirrigated (12.2 m drain spacing)
NDNI: | Nondrained, nonirrigated
NDNIDP: | Nondrained, nonirrigated, delayed planting
NDOHI: | Nondrained, overhead irrigated
NDOHIDP: | Overhead irrigated, nondrained, delayed planting.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Katherine Ausmus, Kolton Bevill, Brett Craigmyle, Chris Dudenhoeffer, Miranda Glasgow, Hayden Hunziker, Clinton Meinhardt, and John Shetley for their technical assistance.

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