Hybrid selection and the interaction of agronomic management practices on productivity of corn

Ochs, Miranda Christine

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129331 Copy

Description

Title

Hybrid selection and the interaction of agronomic management practices on productivity of corn

Author(s)

Ochs, Miranda Christine

Issue Date

2025-05-07

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Below, Frederick E.

Committee Member(s)

• Arbelaez, Juan D.
• Martin, Nicolas F.

Department of Study

Crop Sciences

Discipline

Crop Sciences

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Hybrid
• Agronomic Management
• Fertility
• Plant Population
• Foliar Protection
• Narrow Row Spacing
• Yield
• Corn
• Yield Components

Abstract

As commercial corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids continue to advance in their yield potential, understanding how hybrid selection affects the response to agronomic management is increasingly important. The objectives of this study were to determine the magnitude of yield gain associated with key agronomic management practices including increased plant population, broadcast fertility, foliar protection, and narrow row spacing and how they interact with each other and with hybrid selection. A total of 49 corn hybrids (20 per site), varying in relative maturity and traits, were evaluated at three locations across the state of Illinois in 2022 and 2023 for their yield responses to two different plant populations (34,000 or 42,000 plants acre 1), broadcast fertility (none or 80 lbs P2O5, 60 lbs K2O, 20 lbs sulfur, and 2 lbs zinc acre-1), foliar protection (none or fungicide with insecticide at the VT/R1 growth stage), and row spacing (20 or 30 inches). For the 30-inch row spacing, the agronomic factors were arranged in a complete factorial split-split plot design, while the 20-inch row spacing was arranged as a split-plot with the two plant populations, but with all plots receiving broadcast fertility and foliar protection. Increasing the plant population alone did not increase yield in either year, although responses varied by hybrid and location. Compared to the standard 30-inch row spacing, 20-inch rows increased yield by an average of 11 bushels acre 1 across both years and locations. Averaged across the six site years, applying fertility or foliar protection individually increased yield by 8 or 5 bushels acre 1, respectively, and by 13 bushel acre 1 when applied together indicating an additive response. The highest yields in all site-years were achieved with progressive management by planting the higher plant population in 20-inch rows, and applying both fertility and foliar protection which resulted in an average yield increase of 25.7 bushel acre 1 compared to standard management that consisted of planting the lower plant population in 30-inch rows without added fertility or foliar protection. The yield responses to progressive management, and to individual management practices varied among the hybrids, further accentuating the importance of aligning hybrid characteristics with specific agronomic strategies to maximize corn grain production.

Graduation Semester

2025-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129331

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Miranda Ochs

Owning Collections