The spacing of corn in the west central Great Plains

A 2-year rotation of corn and winter wheat at Akron, Colo., was used to determine the effect of different spacings of corn on the yield of the corn and the following wheat crop. Twelve crops of corn were grown from 1924 to 1935, inclusive, and nine crops of winter wheat. Failure to obtain stands through winter-killing and insect injury accounted for the loss in winter wheat crops. The highest 12-year average yield of ear corn was 13.3 bushels per acre for 24-inch spaced plants in 44-inch rows. This spacing is recommended for grain production for conditions similar to those found at Akron. The 12-year average yield of 9.2 bushels per acre of ear corn from the double-spaced rows, was 28% less than the average for five spacings in the 44-inch row plats. The highest total corn yield, 3,038 pounds per acre, was from the 12-inch spacing in 44-inch rows. The yield from the 18-inch spacing was only a little lower. From 12 to 18 inches in 44-inch rows is recommended as a spacing for silage production in this locality. Corn seeded 30 to 36 inches apart in 44-inch rows averaged about 30% ear corn by weight. That seeded 12 to 18 inches apart in 44-inch rows averaged about 20% ear corn. That seeded 24 inches apart in 44-inch rows averaged about 25% ear corn. The highest average yield of winter wheat for grain was 12.8 bushels per acre obtained from double-spaced row corn land. This was 2 bushels per acre higher than the average of the five spacings in 44-inch rows. There was a loss in ear corn production of 3.6 bushels per acre when the double-spaced row plat was compared with the average for the five spacings in the 44-inch rows. The gain in wheat yield did not more than compensate for the loss in corn. Planting corn in double-spaced rows decreased yields markedly in years of good production and did not increase the sureness of production in poor years. There was not a single adverse year when the yield of double-rowed corn equalled that of thin-spaced corn in regular width rows. The greatest total production of ear corn and wheat grain was obtained from land where corn plants were spaced 24 inches apart in 44-inch rows. The greatest total weights of corn and wheat (grain, stover, and straw) were obtained from the 12-inch spaced corn in 44-inch rows