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Influence of Within‐row Variability in Plant Spacing on Corn Grain Yield 1
Author(s) -
Krall J. M.,
Esechie H. A.,
Raney R. J.,
Clark S.,
TenEyck G.,
Lundquist M.,
Humburg N. E.,
Axthelm L. S.,
Dayton A. D.,
Vanderlip R. L.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1977.00021962006900050016x
Subject(s) - sowing , agronomy , grain yield , zea mays , yield (engineering) , range (aeronautics) , mathematics , row , biology , physics , materials science , database , computer science , composite material , thermodynamics
Abstract Corn ( Zea mays L.) grain yields have been related to wide range of management practices. Row spacing and plant population effects have been well documented; however, little research has been conducted on the variability of within‐row plant spacing and its effect on grain yields. Experiments were conducted in 1972–75 at three irrigated locations in Kansas to determine the effect of within‐row variability of plant spacing on corn grain yields. Low variability was obtained by hand planting within machine planted areas which provided a range of variability. Within‐row variability of plant spacing was determined on 3‐m sections of rows by taking individual measurements between adjacent plants and calculating the standard deviation of spacing. Grain yields consistently decreased as variability of spacing increased at two of the three locations. The third location was more variable and in general showed no relationship between variability of spacing and grain yields. A survey of within‐row variability in plant spacing in fields in three Kansas counties indicated that planting precision could increase yields 200 to 1,200 kg/ha without changing planting rates.