Planting Systems - An Agronomists View?

Alternate Row Spacings

Narrow row and alternate row configurations have been of studied as a means to improve yields by improving light and water use efficiencies.
Karlen et al., (1985) reported 5 to 10% yield increase from narrow rows over 38 in rows. Paszkiewicz (2002) summarized a series of narrow row studies throughout the corn belt and found: Yield response to narrow rows ranged from -1.6 to 7.6% compared to 30 in rows.

Widdicombe and Thelen (2002) reported 30 to 22 in = 2% yield increase 30 to 15 in = 4% yield increase

Light Interception
Paszkiewicz (2002)
Yield responses were more likely to occur in NW corn belt compared to other regions of the corn belt. Attributed advantages to increased light interception in light limiting environments.

Andrade et al. (2002)

Clearly illustrated that yield increases occur in narrow rows in response increased light interception

Narrow Row Corn Study

Years - 1996, 1997, 1998 Row spacings - 15, 20 and 30 inch Plant populations - 20-, 26-, 32-, and 36,000 plants/a Locations - Scandia (irrigated), St. John (irrigated) & Belleville (dryland)

Belleville 1996 - Dryland

140 130 15 20 30

Grain Yield (bu/a)

120 110 100 90 80 70 60 16,000

LSD(0.05) = 9.4

20,000

24,000

28,000

32,000

36,000

40,000

Plant Population (plts/a)

Belleville 1997 - Dryland

90 15 20 30 80 70 60 50
LSD(0.05) = 9.4

Grain Yield (bu/a)

40 16,000

20,000

24,000

28,000

32,000

36,000

40,000

Plant Population (plts/a)

Scandia 1996 & 97- Irrigated

220 200 15 20 30

Grain Yield (bu/a)

180 160 140

LSD(0.05) = 12.2
120 100 16,000

20,000

24,000

28,000

32,000

36,000

40,000

Plant Population (plts/a)

Narrow Row Corn Summary (96-98)

Six irrigated site-years and three dryland site-years

Irrigated Row Yield Diff* Spacing (in) (bu/a) (bu/a)

15 20 30 188.7 13.4 185.0 9.7 175.2 ---

Dryland Yield Diff* (bu/a) (bu/a)

108.3 -5.4 106.0 -7.7 113.8 ---

* Difference compared to 30 rows

Corn Population Summary (96-98)

Six irrigated site-years and three dryland site-years

Plant Population (plt/a)

20,000 26,000 32,000 36,000

Irrigated Yield Diff* (bu/a) (bu/a)

166.4 --184.0 17.6 189.8 23.4 193.7 27.3

Dryland Yield Diff* (bu/a) (bu/a)

103.7 --107.5 3.7 111.8 8.0 114.6 10.9

* Difference compared to 20,000 rows

Paired Row Corn

Believed to have the same light interception characteristics of narrow row corn (~22 in). Can be harvested with conventional corn head.

Paired Row Corn - Drills

Plant paired row corn with fluted feed or air seeders.
Hope that skips in adjacent rows will compensate for each other. Seeding depth control and seed placement?

Paired Row Corn - Drill

Near McPherson in 1998
Irrigated - Center Pivot Planted with air seeder Yield were adjusted for harvest loss.

Irrigated Corn 1998

190 180 170
Drill 7.5"

160 150 140 30000

Drill 15" Drill Paired Row Planter 15" Planter 30"

40000 50000 60000 70000 Plant Population (plts/acre)

80000

Paired Row Corn Study

Alexander, KS 2000
John Deere 1760 Row Crop Planter & 1860 Air Seeder Two corn hybrids Target Plant Populations Planter 19,500 & 21,000 seed/a (hybrid specific) Air Seeder 25,500, 32,500 and 39,000 seed/a

Measured emergence, plant spacing, seeding depth and yield.

Corn - Paired Row

Alexander, KS 2000

Unit Planter Air Seeder LSD(0.05)

Yield (bu/a) 115 104 10

Seed Depth (in) 1.77 1.45 0.16

Std. Dev. in Depth (in) 0.30 0.29 ns

Corn - Paired Row

Alexander, KS 2000
90 80 70
Planter Air Seeder

Index (%)

60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Miss Quality of Feed Multiple

Materials and Methods

Six Location-Years:
Manhattan (dryland) 2001 Manhattan (dryland) 2002 Powhattan (dryland) 2002 Belleville (dryland) 2002

Three planting patterns:

30 in, 20 in, and paired row

Rossville (irrigated) 2001 Topeka (irrigated) 2002

Previous Crop
Soybeans
All location-years

Except Manhattan 2001

Corn

Materials and Methods

Two plant populations:
Dryland: 24,000 and 28,000 plants/a Irrigated: 26,000 and 30,000 plants/a

Hybrids used: Pioneer 34K77 (2001) & Pioneer 35P12 Yield and yield components were measured.
Grain yield Ears/Plant Ears/a Kernel weight

Paired Row Corn - Planter

Two locations:
Manhattan (dryland) Rossville (irrigated)

Two plant populations:

Manhattan: 24,000 and 28,000 Rossville: 26,000 and 30,000

Three planting patterns:

30 in, 20 in, and paired row

Analysis of Variance 2001

Grain Yield
Plot Locations Source
Row Configuration (RC) Plant Density (D) RC X D

Riley
0.09 0.46 0.59

Shawnee
0.81 0.19 0.37

C.V. (%)
Mean Yield (bu/a)

22.4
41

11.8
134

Analysis of Variance 2002

Grain Yield
Plot Locations
Source Row Configuration (RC) Plant Density (D) RC X D C.V. (%) Mean Yield (bu/a) Brown 0.17 0.44 0.09 9.4 67 Shawnee 0.77 0.78 0.81 33.2 91 Riley 0.88 0.09 0.02 6.4 45 Republic 0.05 0.74 0.32 33.3 15

Republic 2002
Row Configuration Grain Yield bu/a 30 in 20 in 25 a 12 b

Paired

10 b

means followed by the same letter in the same column are not different at =0.05

Analysis of Variance 2003

Grain Yield
Plot Locations
Source Row Configuration (RC) Plant Density (D) RC X D C.V. (%) Mean Yield (bu/a) Brown 0.98 0.53 0.52 7.9 83 Shawnee 0.30 0.28 0.54 8.4 123 Riley 0.93 0.83 0.98 14.0 45 Republic 0.89 0.74 0.22 43.3 56

Analysis of Variance 2004

Grain Yield
Plot Locations Source Row Configuration (RC) Plant Density (D) RC X D C.V. (%) Mean Yield (bu/a) Shawnee Republic 0.04 0.01 0.24 4.8 220 0.05 0.21 0.80 13.3 231

Corn - Paired Row - 2004

Shawnee
300 a 250 200 150 100 50 0 30-in Paired Row 20-in b 250 b
Yield (bu/a)

Shawnee
300 a

200 150 100 50 0 30-in Paired Row 20-in

Yield (bu/a)

Paired Row Corn

Narrow rows showed and advantage in high yielding environments in the late 1990s. Narrow rows reduced yields significantly when an extended period of early season water stress was encountered. Establishing consistent stands with and air seeder or fluted feed grain drill in paired rows can be challenging.
Paired rows may have canopy characteristics similar to 20 or 22 in rows, but the advantage of these row spacings were not realized in this study. If adequate stands can be established in paired rows (non air seeder or fluted feed systems) yields will likely be similar to 30 in rows planted with a planter under most dryland situations in Kansas.

Questions?

Paired Row Corn

2001 Row Spacing 30 in 20 in Paired LSD(0.05) Manhattan Yield Ears/Plant bu/a 36.4 0.8 43.4 1.0 39.9 0.9 NS NS Rossville Yield Ears/Plant bu/a 137.8 1.0 132.4 1.0 133.1 1.0 NS NS

Plant population treatments did not significantly affect yields.

Corn Yield Loss from Plant Spacing Variability

20 16

Yield Loss (%)

y = 1.328x + 0.3959 R2 = 0.46

12 8 4 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

10.6 6.6

3.2
0.8
7 8

Seed Spacing (Standard Deviation)

Vanderlip et al., 1988

Planter Speed
Yield
200 175
Yield (bu/a)

150 125 100 75 50

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Powhattan Topeka Powhattan 00

Speed (mph)

Finger Pick-Up Test

Use a Kinze Test Stand (Model 3000) Ran two new meters at : 40 100 rpm
Converted to mph at 3 seeding rates

Medium Round Corn Seed Meter calculates Accuracy, Skips and Multiples.

Finger Pick-Up Test

20 18 16
Multiples Skips 4 5

% Multiples

14 10 8 6 4 2 0
30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 110 1 2

RPM

% Skips

12

Managing Plant Spacing

Select the correct hybrid for your conditions
Plant it at the right time (late April-Early May) Plant the correct population speed influence Maintain your planter and adjust it correctly

Finger Pick-Up Test

1.6 1.4

24000
1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 2 4 6 8

28000

32000

% Skips

10

12

MPH

Finger Pick-Up Test

20 18 16

24000 28000 32000

% Multiples

14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0

10

12

MPH

Planter Speed Study

Corn Seeding Rates: 23,525 & 27,330 seed/acre
Planter Speeds: 5, 8 and 11 mph Four row plots Measured grain yield and plant spacings

Planter Speed - Corn 2000

Multiple Index
16 14
LSDs Pop = ns Speed = ns P x S = ???

Mulitple Index

12 10 8 6 4 2 0 4

23525 plts/a 27330 plts/a

10

12

Speed (mph)

Planter Speed - Corn 2000

Miss Index
25 20
LSDs Pop = ns Speed = 7.2 P x S = ns

Miss Index

15 10 5 0 4 6 8 10 12 23525 plts/a 27330 plts/a Average

Speed (mph)

Planter Speed - Corn 2000

Quality of Feed Index
110
LSDs Pop = ns Speed = 7.6 P x S = ns

Quality of Feed

100 90 80 70 60 4

23525 plts/a 27330 plts/a Average

10

12

Speed (mph)

Planter Speed - Corn 2000

Precision Index
30
LSDs Pop = ns Speed = 3.9 P x S = ns

Precision

25

20

23525 plts/a 27330 plts/a Average

15 4 6 8 10 12

Speed (mph)

Conclusions
Plant variability can result in 10% yield losses under extreme conditions. Skips and doubles increase as planter speed increases, but skips reduce yields, but doubles increase yields if no barrenness occurs. Final plant population should be the first goal and then worry about plant spacing uniformity. Few improvements are likely to be gained when using a new or well maintained planter operated at 4 to 7 mph.

Experimental Design
Planter-Row Spacing
Drill 7.5, 15 and 30 (low pop only) Planter 15 and 30

Three populations (160, 190 and 210,000) Replicated three times (39 plots) Planted 30 foot strips about 1000 feet long Squared plots to about 900 feet long and harvested the center 20 feet Yield monitor and weigh wagon

Soybean 2000
Planter
18 15 12
ns

Drill

Grain Yield (bu/acre)

ns
9 6

30
3 0 120

15

30

15

7.5

140

160

180

100 200

120

140

160

Plant Density (1000 plts/acre)

Plant Density (1000 plts/acre)

Soybean 2000
Planter
100 90
ns

Drill
30 15 7.5

Emergence (%)

80 70 60

30
50 40 120

15

170

220

120

170

220

Plant Density (1000 plts/acre)

Plant Density (1000 plts/acre)

Conclusions
When yields are extremely low, row spacing and plant population have little effect on soybean yields
Soybeans planted with planter units had greater establishment rates (plants/seed drop) than soybeans planted with a drill.

K STATE
Research and Extension
Knowledge for Life

Planter Speed
Topeka 2001 Emergence (%) 4/28 4/30 5/4 NS NS NS NS ** NS NS NS NS

Source Speed (S) Firmer (F) SXF

Expressed as % of final stand as determined on 6/20

Planter Speed
Topeka 2001 Seed Spacing (in) Keaton None LSD(0.05) 7.0 7.2 NS Multiple Std Dev Index (in) 3.35 3.68 0.31 11.2 10.9 NS Miss Index

12.7 14.1 NS

Planter Speed
Topeka 2001 Emergence (%) 4/28 4/30 5/4 Keaton None LSD(0.05) 0.3 0.0 NS 36.7 39.3 NS 93.0 89.7 3.0

Expressed as % of final stand as determined on 6/20

Planter Speed
Powhattan 2001

Source Speed (S) Firmer (F) SXF

Seed Multiple Spacing Std Dev Index NS ** ** NS NS ** NS NS NS

Miss Index

**
NS NS

Planter Speed
Topeka 2001
20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 4 5 6 7 Speed (mph) 8 9 10 y = -0.1362x2 + 2.13x - 4.1337 y = 1.725x - 1.0083 Std. Dev Multiple Index Miss Index y = 1.85x + 0.4167

Planter Speed
Topeka 2001 Emergence (%) 4/28 4/30 5/4 NS NS NS NS ** NS NS NS NS

Source Speed (S) Firmer (F) SXF

Expressed as % of final stand as determined on 6/20

Planter Speed
Topeka 2001 Seed Spacing (in) Keaton None LSD(0.05) 7.0 7.2 NS Multiple Std Dev Index (in) 3.35 3.68 0.31 11.2 10.9 NS Miss Index

12.7 14.1 NS

Planter Speed
Topeka 2001 Emergence (%) 4/28 4/30 5/4 Keaton None LSD(0.05) 0.3 0.0 NS 36.7 39.3 NS 93.0 89.7 3.0

Expressed as % of final stand as determined on 6/20

Speed and Planter Rate (1 rep)

380 ft

23,525

5 mph 11 mph

8 mph 5 mph
11 mph 8 mph

Blocking seeding rates made sub plots (speed) easier to implement

27,330

Planter Speed Study

Yield was measured using an AgLeader PF3000 yield monitor to estimate weight (distance measured with a tape). Plant spacings of 20 plants were measured for planter performance evaluation.

Planter Speed - Corn 2000

Yield
120 110

Yield (bu/a)

NS 100 90 80 70 60 4 6 8 10 12 23,525 27,330

LSDs Pop = ns Speed = ns P x S = ??

Speed (mph)

Planter Speed Study

23,525
Plant Spacing Measurement Area

27,330 27,330 23,525 23,525 27,330

Planter Speed - Corn 2000

Standard Deviation
7 6
Mulitple Index
LSDs Pop = ns Speed = ns P x S = ns

5 4 3 2 1 0 4 6

23525 plts/a 27330 plts/a

8
Speed (mph)

10

12

Give the crop a head start

Get a proper stand
Be sure planters are properly adjusted Be sure planters are properly maintained Consider slowing down.
20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Multiple Index Miss Index

Percentage

5 10 Speed (mph)

15

Proper Planting Depth

Planting corn and sorghum deep (2 & 1.5) will reduce early season mortality under dry soil conditions.
1.2 1.1
y = -0.0782x + 0.3442x + 0.5897 R2 = 0.7343
2

Yield (% of Max)

1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.0 1.0 2.0 Planting Depth (in) 3.0
Source:AgWay

Geary County 1998

Planter Speeds: 3.4, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 mph
Target Population: 27,500 plants/acre Measured Plant Standard Deviation with a mechanical tripping lever device.

Plant Populations and Standard Deviation

4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0
0

26.0 25.0 24.5 24.0 23.5

Standard Dev Plant Density
y = -0.1896x + 24.801 2 R = 0.6383

Standard Deviation (in)

23.0 22.5 22.0

10

Planter Speed (mph)

Population (1000 plts/a)

y = 0.1862x + 2.7202 2 R = 0.7216

25.5

Vanderlip et al. (1988)

Less than 25% of the yield variability was accounted for by within-row spacing variability
In all tests, yield reduction due to variability in plant spacing was less than 1 bu/A per inch standard deviation in plant spacing

Plant Spacing
About 3.5 bu/A yield reduction for each inch of standard deviation in plant spacing(Krall et al. 1977)
Less than one inch of standard deviation in plant spacing for reducing planter speed from 8 mph to 4 mph

Osage County Plots

Standard Deviations
Maximum = 6.4 Average = 3.9 Minimum = 2.2

Emergence related variability, not planter speed

Skips and Doubles?

Doubles
- Plants in the double reduced grain wt/plant by 12% (range 10 to 16%) - However, no barrenness in the doubles increased yield/acre by 14 to 26%

Skips
- Plants next to a skip yielded from 9 to 15% higher than the controls - But the increase was not enough to compensate for the missing plants
Nafziger, 1996

Skips and Doubles?

10% skips in a field at 18,000 plants/a will reduce yields by 5% and 8% at 30,000 plants/a. (increasing seeding rates will reduce the
number of skips)

10% doubles in a field at 18,000 plants/a will increase yields 8% and 4% at 30,000 plants/acre (reducing plate speed will reduce doubles)

Nafziger, 1996

Drilled Corn
80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 10000 15000 20000 Plant Population (plts/acre)
Grain Yield (bu/acre) Avg Plant Spacing (in) Plants/row ft

2 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 25000

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Report - 1888

Douglas County Soybean Project

80 acre field in southern Douglas county Worked with K-State in the past on other projects Curious about differences between split-row planters and drills for soybeans

Soil EC and Yield

2000 Soybean

1999 Corn

Plot Yield vs Distance

25 20
Yield, bu/ac

Planter 15

15

10
Drill 7.5

0 0 200 400 600 Distance, feet 800 1000 1200

Soil EC Path

Treatment Comparisons
Contrast (X vs Y) Planter 15" vs. Drill 15" Planter 30" vs. Drill 30" Planter vs. Drill Drill 7.5 vs. Drill 15 Drill 7.5 vs. Planter 15 Planter 15 vs. Planter 30
** indicates significance at the 0.01 level * indicates significance at the 0.05 level

Establishment (%) X-Y 21.4 ** 16.3 17.6 9.1 -12.4 -1.3 ** ** ** ** ns

Yield (bu/a) X-Y 2.1 * 1.2 1.9 1.9 -0.2 -1.4 ns * * ns ns