Date Available

4-25-2013

Year of Publication

2013

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Agriculture

Department/School/Program

Plant and Soil Science

First Advisor

Dr. Chad D. Lee

Abstract

Studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to determine if narrow row corn (Zea mays L.) and/or greater plant populations could affect yield, time to silking, and other physiological characteristics. Main plots of six hybrids were arranged as a randomized complete bock design with three replications. Split plots were row widths of 76-cm (wide rows) and 20-cm rows on 76-cm spacing (twin rows). Split-split plots were target plant populations of 75 000 and 111 000 plants ha-1. Corn was no-till seeded into soybean stubble near Lexington, KY in 2011 and 2012. Year interacted with most factors analyzed in the study. This was expected, given the extreme differences in weather. 2011 ASI (days) approached zero as plant population increased in wide rows in two out of four hybrids. ASI response to plant population in twin rows was not significant for any hybrid. In 2011, yield was greater in twin rows than wide rows. For significant equations, in 2011 grain yield increased as plant population increased, but in 2012 grain yield decreased as plant population increased, across both row widths. Kernel number per ear decreased as plant population increased in 2011 and 2012, but at different rates for wide and twin rows.

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