Evaluation of DEKALB® Brand Corn Products to Planting Rates

TRIAL OBJECTIVE

• Planting rates are a key decision for maximizing product yield potential. Understanding how a product responds to planting rates is a critical component of the decision-making process.
• This trial was conducted to evaluate the response of DEKALB® Brand corn products to planting rates.
• Questions include -
  • Which DEKALB® brand products provide the highest potential return on investment for increasing seeding rates?
  • Which planting rate or ranges of rates optimize the potential performance of a DEKALB® brand product at Scott, MS?
• Knowing the appropriate planting rate and the associated potential net return is important for agronomic and financial planning.
• Product performance based on planting rate is useful when ordering DEKALB® corn products for planting in 2023.

RESEARCH SITE DETAILS

• All agronomic inputs were applied per local standards.
• Planted on bedded 38-inch rows.
• Single row planting.
• 265 lbs N per acre as liquid - surface application.
• Planting rates were 28,000, 33,000, 38,000, and 43,000 seeds/acre
• Single replication strip plot
  • Greenhouse North: 6 rows x 140 feet long (0.061 acres/plot)
  • Field D1: 12 rows x 100 feet long (0.87 acres/plot)
• Plots planted and harvested with commercial equipment.
• DEKALB® brand insect protected products planted at Greenhouse North Location (Table 1).
• DEKALB® brand refuge products planted at Field D1 location (Table 2).

• Analysis
  • Yields
    • Entire plots harvested – 6 (Greenhouse North) or 12 (Field D1) rows.
  • Return on Investment calculations (all future references to “return on investment” in this article use this calculation).
    • All yields (bu/acre) corrected to 15.5% moisture content.
    • Seed cost – Assumed to be -
      • Technology Products – $ 5.00/1000 kernels
      • Refuge Products – $4.25/1000 kernels
  • Grain Price – August 2023 delivery (2023 used for future budgeting and planning)
    • $6.36/bu @ 15.5% moisture content
  • For each comparison, products with less than $10.00/acre return excluded from calculations.

UNDERSTANDING THE RESULTS

• The germination and plant establishment for each planting rate was approximately 92%.
• Typical yield responses were observed in this data (Figures 1 and 2).
• Products with less than $10.00/acre return were excluded from calculations.
• Observations (Table 3 and Figures 1 and 2):

KEY LEARNINGS

• Growers should carefully evaluate the response of individual corn products to seeding rates for three factors:
  • If seeding rates are increased, do yields increase?
  • Will my chosen product respond to seeding rates?
  • Will products maintain adequate standability with increasing seeding rates?
• Return on Investment estimates can range among products. For the tested products, the range was from -$89.00/acre to $149.00/acre depending on the comparison.
• This type of data helps growers determine planting parameters prior to seed purchase and planting season.

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