Can you believe it was 1975 when Herman Warsaw set a new corn yield record of 338 bushels per acre? Here we are 47 years later, almost giddy if we can average 200 bushels per acre. What will it take for us to reach that lofty goal of 300 bushels per acre?
Fred Below from the University of Illinois has been researching this very topic.
We first need to start with good drainage, excellent weed control, proper soil pH, and adequate P and K based on soil tests.
There are seven factors to consider when you are trying to push yield.
Weather is the first factor, and as we have felt, this year is the most limiting and uncontrollable. It has the largest impact on yield at 27%, with an estimated 70 plus bushel per acre affect.
Nitrogen is the second limiting factor that influences yield by 26%, with an estimated 70 bushels per acre affect on yield. The source is not as important as having the right amount to finish a 300 bushel crop. Use nitrogen stabilizers to minimize losses, and when side-dressing nitrogen, use the nitrogen calculator to come up with the proper rates.
Hybrid selection is the third factor that can influence yield by 50% and can contribute up to 50 bushels per acre yield response. Make sure you use a properly traited variety best suited for the type of ground you are on and disease and insect pressure present.
Crop rotation is the fourth factor that influences final yield by 25%. You can gain up to 25 bushels by following a good rotation, such as wheat that was under-seeded to red clover.
Plant population is the fifth factor at 20%, which can positively affect yield by as much as 20 bushels. However, by increasing plant populations, you increase inter-plant competition, which must be managed. Response to a higher plant population is heavily influenced by the weather, nitrogen availability, and hybrid selection.
Tillage is the sixth factor that can influence yield by as much as 15%.If you work the ground too early, too wet, too deep or too shallow, you may be creating an uneven seedbed; and can cost you up to 15 bushels.
The final piece to producing high-yielding corn is fungicides which contribute 10% toward your final yields. Fungicide applications have become extremely beneficial over the years, especially in high disease years. Statistics over the years have shown a nine-bushel increase over untreated acres. If heavy disease pressure is present from Tar spot, Northern Leaf Blight, and Grey Leaf Spot, yield increases of 20-40 bushels have been obtained.
These are the seven basics to maximizing yields. With crop prices are at historically high values growing the most bushels you can is the best way to minimize your unit cost of production. Contact your local AGRIS Crop Specialist to engage in crop planning to see how you can maximize your yields.
References: Fred Below, University of Illinois, The Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World.