Des Moines, Iowa, USA
August 14, 2013
Producers selecting corn hybrid products for corn-on-corn fields face special challenges with trash on top of the soil and root mass underneath. To overcome these obstacles, according to DuPont Pioneer experts, growers should select hybrids with proven performance under diverse environments and stresses. One option is products with above average drought tolerance. In these fields, root mass may be reduced due to crowding, hence limiting water uptake the same as during drought conditions. The good news is that growers have choices among hybrids that thrive in water-limited conditions.
Products from the Optimum® AQUAmax™ family have been locally tested and have shown an 8.7 percent yield advantage in water-limited environments and a 2.6 percent yield advantage in favorable growing conditions. During the last two years more than 19, 207 comparisons across the past two growing seasons demonstrate that Optimum AQUAmax products are a good choice in stressful environments like a corn after corn rotation.
Equipped with strong agronomics and the latest technology packages, Optimum AQUAmax hybrids are designed to make more out of every drop. The unique trait package includes advanced stomata control for more efficient use of H2O, aggressive silking for improved kernel set, deeper kernels that maintain yield under late-season stress, and an efficient root system that captures deep soil moisture. To see how Optimum AQUAmax optimized water under dry conditions in the Western U.S. Corn Belt during summer 2013, visit the Optimum AQUAmax page on pioneer.com and click the Watch It Grow tab.
Pioneer researchers use native genes from a wide background of maize genetics to help improve drought tolerance within Optimum AQUAmax products. Because drought is a complex challenge, many genes are involved in a plant’s ability to tolerate hot, dry conditions.
Other characteristics to consider for corn-after-corn production include:
- Hybrid maturity - Select an appropriate maturity that matches corn planting date and seasonal growing degree units. Account for cooler soils and slower emergence under high-residue conditions associated with corn following corn.
- Defensive traits - Choose the highest-performing genetics with defensive traits including standability and disease and insect resistance required for this production system.
- Seeding rate - Extensive field research has documented the value for planting higher seeding rates in more productive areas and decreasing rates where productivity is lower. However, sometimes pushing plant populations imposes additional stress on the plant. Selecting hybrids such as Optimum AQUAmax, which are designed to handle that stress, allows you to get more ears per acre by increasing the seeding rate.
For additional information on hybrid selection or seeding rates contact your local DuPont Pioneer agronomist or Pioneer sales professional or visit www.pioneer.com.
* In 2012, Optimum® AQUAmax™ products were grown in on-farm comparisons against competitive hybrids (+/- 4 CRM) in 3,606 water-limited environments with a win ratio of 69 percent; and 7,663 comparisons under favorable growing conditions with a win ratio of 59 percent in the United States. Cumulative claim includes all 2011 and 2012 on-farm comparisons across the United States. Water limited environments are those in which the water Supply/demand ratio during flowering or grain fill was less than 0.66 on a 0-1 scale (1=adequate moisture as determined by Pioneer) using Pioneer’s proprietary EnClass® system and in which the average yield of the commercially available hybrids was less than 150 bu/acre. Moisture levels were measured at the nearest weather station. Favorable growing conditions are locations where yield levels were at or above 180 bu/acre on average, regardless of moisture levels. Product performance in water-limited environments is variable and depends on many factors such as the severity and timing of moisture deficiency, heat stress, soil type, management practices, and environmental stress, as well as disease and pest pressures. All hybrids may exhibit reduced yield under water and heat stress. Individual results may vary.
Herculex® Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Herculex® and the HX logo are registered trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company.
Liberty®, LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of Bayer.
Species
