nc state

Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School
R.W. Heiniger
North Carolina State University

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

(lb)
Applied
Corrn
Yield ( bu) or N
Pasquotank Corn – 1998 to 2007
Yield, Plant Population, N Applied, Row Spacing
300
250
200
150
100
50
Plant Population y = 7.93x
Corn Yield y = 77.46x 46x
N Applied y = 1.63x
Row Spacing y = -1.84x
0
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
100) or Row R Spaccing
(in)
nt Pop (x
0 Plan

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Breaking Yield Barriers
IT”S IT S ALL ABOUT LIGHT INTERCEPTION
Row Spacing
Plant Population

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Effect of Row Spacing on Plant Height Height – 12” 12 spacing
44” 12”

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Int ntercepted Radiation R (um moles/s/m2) )
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
June 9, 2003
IIntercepted t t d RRadiation di ti iin RResponse tto Pl Plant t
Population
18 inch
36 inch
Twin Row
15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Pl Plant t Population P l ti (thousands)
(th d )

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Int ntercepted Radiation R (um moles/s/m2) )
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
July 30, 2003
IIntercepted t t d RRadiation di ti iin RResponse tto Pl Plant t
Population
18 inch
36 inch
Twin Row
15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Pl Plant t Population P l ti (thousands)
(th d )

Corn Yiee
ld ( bu/acre
)
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
300
2250 0
200
150
100
50
Optimum Opt u Plant a t Population opu at o
Average Yield Increase Across 12 Locations and 3 Row
Spacings (LEFT) and Data from NC Corn Yield Contest
indicates a 3 bu acre-1 for each increase of 1000 seeds planted
0
20000 27000 34000 40000
Seeds Planted per Acre
Corn Yiee
ld (bu/a cr e)
300
250
200
150
100
50
SSulfur lf ddeficiency fi i
in Corn
y = 0.0029x + 127.67
0
20000 25000 30000 35000 40000
Seeds Planted per Acre

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Relativee
Ear Weiight
(% of
20,0000
population)
Ear Weight Response to Increasing Plant Population -Non-
Thinned Sites 2004
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
y =-00.0018x 0018x + 135 135.33
R 2 30
20
= 0.6493
10
0
10000 20000 30000 40000
Plants per p
Acre

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Increases in Plant Population increase Yield
⇒ Higher plant populations pave the way for high yield by
intercepting more sunlight – BUT increasing plant
population increases risk of drought or nutrient stress
180
acre -1
Yield, Y bu a
170
160
150
140
130
120
110
100
Pamlico 2007
SSulfur lf ddeficiency fi i
in Corn
14000 19000 24000 29000 34000 39000
Plant Population, plants acre -1

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Root oot Development
e e op e t
⇒ Increasing population requires higher concentrations of
nutrients t i t in i the th root t zone for f the th development d l t of f root t mass
(oz plant -1 Rooot
Ball Mass ( )
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Effect of Plant Population on Root Mass
2004-05
Davidson 2006
Pasquotank 2006
27000 38000
Plant Population, Plants acre-1

NC STATE UNIVERSITY What’s The Difference?
12-12-4 No Starter

NC STATE UNIVERSITY Number of Rows on a Corn
Ear is Set by y V6
Corn at V6
Developing Ear

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Mass (oz/pplant)
Root
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Differences in Root Ball Mass
FFertility tilit Treatments T t t across Plant Pl t Populations:
P l ti
2004-06
19-19-0 + K 19-19-0 0-0-60 No Starter

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Evaluate crop, i.e. root limitations due to high water table or higher
populations may require higher nutrient concentrations in the
smaller root zone.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Staalk
Diameeter
beloww
ear (in) )
1.5
1.25
1
0.75
0.5
0.25 0 5
0
Differences in Stalk Diameter
Fertility Treatments across Two Plant Populations
2005
2006
19-19-0 + K 19-19-0 0-0-60 No Starter

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
u acre -1
Yield, bu
250
200
150
100
50
0
Beaufort 2004 04
Differences in Corn Yield
Fertility Treatments across Six NC Sites
Perquimans P
2004 04
Hyde 2005 05
Perquimans P
2005 05
Pasquotank P
2006 06
Davidson 2006 06
19-19-0 + K
19-19-0
0-0-60
No Starter

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
CCan FFertilizer tili Additives Additi IIncrease Root R t MMass
and Crop Yield?
Products Based on Micronutrients or Nutrient Blends
Asset – N and K with trace elements
ACA Concentrate– 15% N and 17% Zn
Awaken – ACA mixed with a blended fertilizer
CALFA – Carboxylic Acid Fertilizer Additive
Humic Acid Products with or without added Nutrients
PN40 + PN+ - HHumic micAcid Acid with ith traces of BB, Co Co, Fe Fe,
Mn, Mo, Zn
SoilPlus – Humic Acid with 5-10-5 + Zn, B

(bu/acre)
Cornn
Yield
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Yield Response p to Four Products and 19-19-0
at Three Locations
250
200
150
100
50
0
a
b
b
ab
Passquotank
2003
b c bc
a b
Passquotank
2004
a
b
Coolumbus
2004
CHECK
19-19-0
Asset (3pt)
ACA(1067oz)
ACA (10.67 oz)
Awaken (3.75 pt)
CALFA (10 oz)
19-19-0 (10gal) (10 gal)
Awaken

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Corn C Yieeld
(bu/ acre)
Yield Response p to Two Humic Acid Products and 19-19-0
at Two Locations
250
200
150
100
50
0
NS
CHECK
PN40 - PN+ (1.5 qt)
SoilPlus (1 qt)
19 19-19-0 19 0 (10 gal) l)
Pasquotank Columbus 2004
2004
a
b
b
b
19-19-0
SoilPlus
PN40 – PN+

Ca ++
AVAIL ® Polymer Coated
Ca ++
Ca ++
Phosphate
HPO4-- HPO4-- HPO4
HPO4-- HPO4-- HPO4-- Ca ++ Ca ++ HPO4 --
Ca ++ HPO4 --
Mg ++
HPO4
HPO4-- - -
7

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Improving Early Growth and Stress Tolerance
12 – 12 – 4 @ 20 gal/acre
12 – 12 – 4 @ 20 gal/acre
Plus Avail

Comparison of Root and Stalk Properties with (Yes)
and without (No) ( ) Avail added to the starter
Root Properties
Stalk
Properties
Depth (in) Width (in) Mass (oz)
Ear Internode
Diameter (in)
Location -
Year No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes
Pamilico -07 5.3 6.0 5.8 6.1 7.5 8.7 0.95 1.0
Currituck – 07 3.6 3.7 5.0 5.0 9.0 11.2 0.93 0.95
Beaufort – 08 2.6 2.6 4.0 4.3 2.4 2.7 0.74 0.78
PPasq. - 08 37 3.7 38 3.8 58 5.8 56 5.6 38 3.8 47 4.7 079 0.79 083 0.83
10 gal/acre of 10-27-0 with Avail
No Starter

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Rooot
Mass (g/ /plant)
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
FFertility tilit Treatments T t t at t Two T Different Diff t Rates R t
Currituck 2007
10-27-0 10-27-0
w/Avail
10 gal/acre
20 gal/acre
17-17-0 N Source No Starter

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
u acre-1 Yield, bu
Corn
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Root Mass – Pasquotank Co Co. 2008
0.0.27 10.27.0 10.27.0
+ Avail
17.17.0 12.12.4 30.0.0 Check

NC STATE UNIVERSITY Yield Response to Avail
Corn Yield (bu acre-1 )
Starter
Location - P No Starter with 200
Year Level Starter only Avail
Pamilico -07 Med 185.1 191.0 200.7
Currituck – 07 Med 190.8 198.6 199.4
Beaufort – 08 High 128.0 122.7 127.5
Grain Yielld
(bu/acree)
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
Pasq. - 08 High 165.3 153.7 160.0
Perq Perq. – 07 Low 131 131.3 3 155 155.0 0 167 167.8 8 20
Guilford – 07 High 143.3 142.2 160.9
Davidson – 07 Med 123.7 151.0 133.5
Davidson - 08 High 161.3 164.6 164.0
Forsythe – 08 Med 105.6 110.4 120.3
Guilford - 08 High 106.6 107.0 121.8
Average Yield Increase = 6 bu acre -1
0
No Starter
12-12-4
12 12-12-4 12 4 + Avail
Perquimans Guilford

NC STATE UNIVERSITY What’s The Difference?
30-0-0 (20 gal/a) 10-27-0 + Avail

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
u acre-1 Yield, b
Corn
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0-0-27
10-27-0
10-27
27-0+Avail
Pasquotank Co. - 2008
12-12-4
17-17-0
30-0-0
Check

NC STATE UNIVERSITY Guilford County - 2008
bu acre -1
Coorn
Yield, b
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
30% UAN 12-12-4
Nutrisphere
Nitrogen applied, lbs N acre -1
p = 00.0192 0192 - 12 12.12.4 12 4 vs 12 12.12.4 12 4 + AAvail il
12-12-4 + Avail
160 24 152 184 152 184 152 184 152 184

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Wh i A il ® Where is Avail W ki F U ?
® Working For Us?
Cool soils with excess moisture – Improves P uptake
Soils where pH is above or below optimum levels
corn following cotton or tobacco on sandy soils
corn on new ground
Situations where soil P concentrations are low in the upper profile
Wasda soils with shallow organic horizons
HPO4 --
HPO4 --
HPO4 --
HPO4 --
HPO4 --

Forsythe County – 2008 (pH = 6.1)
bu acre -1
Corn C Yield,
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
30% UAN
Nutrisphere
12-12-4 12 12 4
12-12-4 + Avail
160 24 152 184 152 184 152 184 152 184
Nitrogen applied, lbs N acre -1
p = 0.3814 - 12.12.4 vs 12.12.4 + Avail
p = 0.0394 – UAN vs Nutrisphere when starter is applied
p = 0.0398 – UAN vs Nutrisphere + Avail

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Effects of Nutrisphere on Yield and Optimum N Rate
Location - Year Maximum
Yield
Corn Yield (bu acre -1 )
30% UAN UAN + Nutrisphere
Economic
Optimum
N rate
Maximum
Yield
Economic
Optimum
N Rate
Pamilico -07 209.7 187 219.1 135
Currituck – 07 176.5 147 191.1 109
Pamlico – 08 165 165.9 9 230 169 169.8 8 180
Bertie - 08 64.6 0 87.8 0
Davidson – 07 151.0 n/a 136.0 n/a
Davidson - 08 179.1 n/a 163.2 n/a
Forsythe – 08 125.4 n/a 142.1 n/a
Guilford - 08 127.7 n/a 128.3 n/a

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
(bu/acree)
Corrn
Yield
Influence of Nutrisphere on Corn Yield
Pamlico County - 2007
240
200
160
120
80
40
0
Nutrisphere
30% UAN
0.0 100.0 200.0 300.0 400.0
Total N Applied (Lbs N/acre)

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
u acre -1
Cornn
Yield, bu
180
170
160
150
140
130
120
110
a
a
b
b
c
*
b
Pamlico Co. - 2008
c
*
bbc
c
c
Nutrisphere added
30% UAN alone
* denotes significant difference between sources
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
N applied, lbs N acre -1

Breaking the Corn Yield Barrier
Use of early fertilizer placed in the root zone increases root
mass and reduces water and nutrient stress in high
population systems.
While most fertilizer additives have shown little benefit in
improving root mass and yield; recent studies on Avail
have indicated that it does increase root mass and plant
growth compared to the use of a starter fertilizer alone.
While Avail did not always increase yield; across the ten siteyears
the average yield increase was 6.0 bu acre -1 .
When compared with 30% UAN, Nutrisphere resulted in very
small increases in yield. The key advantage was that
Nutrisphere improved NUE resulting in reductions in
optimum N rates of 50 lbs N acre-1 .

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Tomorrow is Built on the
Tomorrow is Built on the
Decisions you make TODAY!

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
N NUE – Do MORE with IT!
Plant Feeds Every Day – Don’t Don t Give it Just ONE Meal
30% UAN
NH4SO4
Soluble Fertilizers are only Available for a Short Period
In Current Systems most of the N comes from the Soil

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Grain Yield Y (bu/aacre)
250
200
150
100
50
0
Fertility Treatments
Currituck and Pamlico County Sites - 2007
Currituck Pamlico
No Starter
10-27-0
10-27-0 + Avail
17-17-0

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Grainn
Yield (bu/ /acre)
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
FFertility tilit Treatments
T t t
Perquimans and Alamance County Sites - 2007
No Starter
12-12-4
12-12-4 + Avail
Perquimans Alamance

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Yield (bbu/acre)
Corn
Influence of Nutrisphere on Corn Yield
Currituck County - 2007
23 235
215
195
175
155
135
115
95
75
Nutrisphere
30% UAN
0.0 100.0 200.0 300.0
Total N Applied (Lbs N/acre)

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Yield (bbu/acre)
Corn
Influence of Nutrisphere on Corn Yield
Davidson County - 2007
23 235
215
195
175
155
135
115
95
75
Nutrisphere
30% UAN
0 100 200 300
Total N Applied (Lbs N/acre)

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Yield (bu/ acre)
Grain
250
200
150
100 00
50
0
Fertility Treatments
Davidson County Site - 2007
No Starter 17-17-0 17-17-0 +
Avail
17-17-0 +
3-18-18
17-17-0 +
0-0-27
3-18-18
Furrow
0-0-27
Furrow

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Increases in Plant Population increase Yield
⇒ Higher plant populations pave the way for high yield by
intercepting more sunlight
bu acre -1
Yield,
300
250
200
150
100
50
Perquimens 2003
Beaufort 2004
Beaufort 2005
Perquimens 2005
0
14000 19000 24000 29000 34000 39000
SSulfur lf ddeficiency fi i
in Corn
Plant Population, plants acre -1

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
“300 300 Bushel Club” Club
• 6 entries in contest >300 bushels in
last few years y

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Plant Spacing in Row
78408
52272
43560
4” 8” 12”
34850
23233
19360
26136
17424
14520
20”
30” 30
36”
Row W
Width
What Effects Ear
Si Size th the MOST?
Row Width OR
Plant Spacing

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Conclusions
Growth enhancers seldom increased yield when
y
compared to 19-19-0 or an untreated check.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY What’s The Difference?
10-27-0 + Avail 0-0-27

NC STATE UNIVERSITY Does It Make a Difference?
0-0-27 Check 12-12-4
10-27-0 + Avail

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Seminal Roots
Radicle

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Breaking Yield Barriers
Increasing Plant Population Increases Stress Due to
Competition for Water and Nutrients
Uniform Plant Spacing
Early Root Development

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Rooot
Mass (g/plant) (
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
FFertility tilit Treatments T t t at t Two T Different Diff t Rates R t
Pamlico 2007
10-27-0 10-27-0
w/Avail
17-17-0 17-17-0
deep band
10 gal/acre
20 gal/acre
N Source No Starter