Comparing the agronomic performance of short‐season and commonly grown corn hybrid maturities in Ohio
2020
Lindsey, Alexander J. | Minyo, Richard | Geyer, Allen B. | Thomison, Peter R.
Planting short‐season corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids with maturity ratings earlier than those of hybrids commonly grown in Ohio (hereafter referred to as “ultra‐early” hybrids) might offer advantages in cover cropping systems by promoting an earlier corn harvest. Earlier harvest would facilitate earlier planting of cover crops or small grains to improve fall establishment. However, performance data related to yield and harvest moisture for ultra‐early hybrids is limited. A field study was conducted from 2016 to 2018 at two northern Ohio locations (Bucyrus and Wooster) to compare the agronomic performance and partial economic returns of ultra‐early hybrids with relative maturity ratings ranging from 90 to 100 d (∼2056–2450 growing degree days [GDDs]) to commonly grown hybrid maturities ranging from 104 to 109 d (∼2500–2600 GDDs). The ultra‐early hybrids incurred less drying costs and had higher test weights than the commonly grown maturity hybrids but yielded 9–10% less. Ultra‐early hybrids with ratings of 96–100 d yielded 3–5% more than those with ratings of 90 to 95 d. For late May and early June plantings, the partial return per acre for 96–100‐d hybrids did not differ from the commonly grown maturities due mainly to discounts from low test weights and high harvest moisture when harvested on the same date. The results suggest that growers could optimize profitability by planting the highest yielding early maturing hybrids and gain days of growth for potential cover crop establishment by planting ultra‐early hybrids.
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