Optimum plant population for fresh-market sweet corn in the northeastern United States
2000
Morris, T.F. | Hamilton, G. | Harney, S.
There is little published data to support current recommended plant populations of 11,500 to 17,500 plants/acre (28,600 to 34,600 plants/ha) for fresh market sweet corn (Zea mays L.) in the northeastern United States. The plant population likely affects marketable yield and recovery of nitrate. Residual soil nitrate is of concern because of the potential for nitrate contamination of water supplies. Our objectives were to determine the effect of plant population on the yield of sweet corn grown for fresh market without irrigation and on the amount of nitrate in the surface 1 ft (30 cm) of soil at harvest. Seven main-season sweet corn varieties were planted in a total of eight experiments in 1995, 1996, and 1997. Seven experiments were in Connecticut and one was in New Hampshire. All but one of the varieties were standard (su) or sugary enhanced (se) varieties. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications, and the treatments consisted of 12,000, 16,000, 20,000, 24,000, and 28,000 plants/acre (29,600, 39,500, 49,400, 59,300, and 69,200 plants/ha). The yield of marketable ears was classified based on the length of the ears. The results suggest that the current recommendations for plant population in the Northeast US may be too low. Populations of 20,000 and 24,000 plants/acre produced consistently greater yields of ears greater than 7.0 inches (178 mm) long. Soil nitrate-N concentrations at harvest were about 8 mg(.)kg-1 lower with 16,000 plants/acre or greater, compared with 12,000 plants/acre, which suggests that populations of 16,000/acre or greater should decrease the potential for nitrate contamination of water supplies in the fall, winter, and early spring.
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