Premium
Simulation Supplements Field Studies to Determine No‐Till Dryland Corn Population Recommendations for Semiarid Western Nebraska
Author(s) -
Lyon Drew J.,
Hammer Graeme L.,
McLean Greg B.,
Blumenthal Jürg M.
Publication year - 2003
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/agronj2003.8840
Subject(s) - loam , sowing , agronomy , environmental science , population , dryland farming , soil water , water use , zea mays , hydrology (agriculture) , agriculture , biology , ecology , soil science , demography , geology , geotechnical engineering , sociology
In a 2‐yr multiple‐site field study conducted in western Nebraska during 1999 and 2000, optimum dryland corn ( Zea mays L.) population varied from less than 1.7 to more than 5.6 plants m −2 , depending largely on available water resources. The objective of this study was to use a modeling approach to investigate corn population recommendations for a wide range of seasonal variation. A corn growth simulation model (APSIM‐maize) was coupled to long‐term sequences of historical climatic data from western Nebraska to provide probabilistic estimates of dryland yield for a range of corn populations. Simulated populations ranged from 2 to 5 plants m −2 . Simulations began with one of three levels of available soil water at planting, either 80, 160, or 240 mm in the surface 1.5 m of a loam soil. Gross margins were maximized at 3 plants m −2 when starting available water was 160 or 240 mm, and the expected probability of a financial loss at this population was reduced from about 10% at 160 mm to 0% at 240 mm. When starting available water was 80 mm, average gross margins were less than $15 ha −1 , and risk of financial loss exceeded 40%. Median yields were greatest when starting available soil water was 240 mm. However, perhaps the greater benefit of additional soil water at planting was reduction in the risk of making a financial loss. Dryland corn growers in western Nebraska are advised to use a population of 3 plants m −2 as a base recommendation.