Corn Emergence in Relation to Soil Temperature and Seeding Depth1

Abstract

AbstractField and growth room experiments at Mandan, N. D., evaluated the effects of seed depth and soil temperature on corn (Zea mays L.) germination and emergence. In the growth room, from 4 to 24 days were required to achieve 80% emergence, depending upon soil temperature and seed depth. Increasing soil temperature from 13.3 to 26.7 C reduced the time for 80% emergence. Temperature had a much greater effect than seed depth on emergence. A highly significant linear relationship existed between percent emergence and cumulative degree‐days above 10 C.In field treatments with adequate soil water for germination, 8 to 13 days were required for near 80% germination. About one additional day was required for each 2.5‐cm increase in depth of planting. For corn placed at 7.6 cm, about 10 days and 68 cumulative degree‐days were required for emergence. Similar degree‐day requirements occurred for the 12.7‐cm depth. Degree‐day requirements for field experiments agreed very well with those obtained in the growth room.