INSIGHTS
- Crop management enhancements are tightly linked to increased yield potential.
- Hybrids respond differently to enhanced management.
- Hybrid ear flex can be kernels per ear and/or kernel weight.
- Local hybrid × management system trials help place the right product on the right acre to maximize yield potential.
Positioning corn hybrids in the appropriate fields and implementing the right management practices is critically important for maximizing yield potential. Golden Harvest is committed to providing information on how our hybrids respond to different management systems and informing growers which hybrids are best for their environment.
In 2024, Golden Harvest implemented genetic × environment × management (G × E × M) on-farm replicated strip-trials at 7 locations to better understand how hybrids respond to enhanced management at a local level (Figures 1 and 2).
Trials consisted of hybrids planted in both standard management and enhanced management systems. The enhanced management system was in addition to the standard management system, which was the grower’s base management program. Management practices varied depending on location. Applied treatments for each location are listed in Table 1.
Figure 1. Locations for on-farm G x E x M trials in 2024.
Figure 2. G x E x M strip trial with 4 Golden Harvest hybrids at Stacyville, IA in 2024.
Table 1. Enhanced treatments incremental to the grower standard program for on-farm G x E x M trial locations.G x E x M Trial Results
Yield response to the enhanced management system ranged from 4 to 32 Bu/A, depending on location (Graph 1). Waldron, MI and Brookings, SD were the most responsive locations, yielding 32 and 20 Bu/A greater with enhanced management compared to standard management, respectively. The level of enhanced management did not predict the degree of response, illustrating that environment, hybrid, and base management all play a role.
Across all locations in 2024, there was a 13 Bu/A average yield improvement with enhanced management. Similar trials conducted in 2023 averaged an 11 Bu/A response to enhanced management, suggesting there is yield potential to be gained on these farms through better crop management. In these trials, there were varying levels of standard and enhanced management systems with an array of different products. To obtain the most consistent return on investment, it is imperative to understand the most limiting yield factors on each farm and focus management strategies on those factors.
Graph 1. Average hybrid yield response to enhanced management at seven locations in 2024.Hybrid Response to Management
Hybrids responded differently to enhanced management (Graph 2). G03U08 brand was at 5 locations and it was consistently one of the least responsive hybrids to enhanced management compared to other hybrids in these trials. Although it was less responsive to management, G03U08 was the highest yielding hybrid under standard management at 4 of the 5 locations. G01U74 brand was highly responsive to management at 2 out of the 3 locations where it was planted. At Stacyville, IA, it responded by 29 Bu/A to the additional 53 lbs N/A with the enhanced management (Graph 2). G12U11 brand had a solid response to enhanced management at both locations yielding 7 and 22 Bu/A greater. G10U97 brand was less consistent in response to management. At Traer, IA and Sumner, IA, G10U97 responded well, but not at Catlin, IL. Within the full-season hybrid at Catlin, IL, G14B32 brand was the highest yielding hybrid when grown under standard management, yielding 285 Bu/A. However, when grown with enhanced management, G15U34 brand was the highest yielding hybrid producing 310 Bu/A.
Graph 2. Hybrid yield response to enhanced management at seven locations in 2024.Hybrid Yield Components
Figure 3. Hybrid G02K39 brand grown under standard (left) and enhanced (right) management at Silver Creek, WI in 2024.At Silver Creek, WI, ears were sampled to measure kernels per ear and kernel weight. Kernel weight is expressed as the number of kernels needed to produce a bushel. If fewer kernels are required to produce a bushel, those kernels are heavier. Enhanced management increased yield by 5 Bu/A for both G01U74 and G03U08 brands. Both hybrids responded by producing more kernels per ear (Table 2). G01U74 had 16% more kernels per ear under enhanced management while G03U08 had 7% more kernels per ear. However, G01U74 was unable to maximize grain fill of the additional kernels, resulting in kernels weighing 6% less and requiring more kernels to produce a bushel of corn. G03U08 brand was better at filling the additional kernels and only experienced a 3% decrease in kernel weight (Table 2). Enhanced management increased G02K39 brand yield by 17 Bu/A. G02K39 produced 7% more kernels per ear while also maintaining kernel weight better than other hybrids (1% drop in kernel weight), perhaps because genetically, G02K39 produces large kernels. Enhanced management improved late-season plant health to help fill those kernels, making them heavier and requiring only 57,573 kernels to produce a bushel (Figure 3 and Table 2).
Table 2. Hybrid yield components grown under standard and enhanced management at Silver Creek, WI in 2024.G01U74 brand has great ear flex in terms of producing more kernels per ear but the value of added kernels can be negated by lack of resources to retain normal kernel size (nutrition, water, plant health, etc.). In contrast, genetically, G02K39 produces large kernels, and yield potential is determined by the amount of available resources during grain fill to pack more starch into kernels.
Summary
Genetic × environment × management trials aim to illustrate how hybrids can respond to intensive management in specific local environments. The environment significantly influences yield potential, and by understanding the interaction between hybrid genetics and crop management practices, it becomes possible to optimize product placement and maximize yield potential.
It is important to understand that in these trials there were multiple inputs used to achieve the yield responses that were seen. The yield levels reinforce that many farms still have untapped yield potential. However, a consistent return on investment depends in part on a thorough understanding of the most limiting yield factors on each farm. Identifying the limiting factors can help focus management strategies so a consistent return on investment can be attained. Local hybrid × management system trials help place the right product on the right acre to maximize yield potential.
If you are interested in participating in local Genetic × Environment × Management trials, please reach out to your local Golden Harvest Agronomist or Sales Representative.
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