Abstract
Corn (Zea mays L.) production in the Southeast can be negatively impacted by erratic summer rainfall and drought-prone, coarse-textured soils, but irrigation combined with conservation tillage and cover crops may support greater plant densities arranged in different row configurations to improve yield. We examined five site-years of data across two soil types in Alabama to compare corn yields in a conservation system across three plant densities for single- and twin-row configurations in dryland and irrigated moisture regimes. Treatments were arranged with a split plot treatment restriction in a RCB design with three replications. Main plots were irrigation level (no irrigation and irrigation), and subplots were a factorial arrangement of three plant densities (5.9, 7.4, and 8.9 plants m−2) and row configurations (single and twin). A moisture environment (low and moderate) variable, defined by growing season rainfall, was used to average over site-years. In general, irrigation in the moderate-moisture environment improved each measured variable (plant height, stover yield, corn yield, and test weight) and decreased grain N concentration and aflatoxin levels compared to the low-moisture environment with no irrigation. Benefits of increased rainfall and irrigation to reduce soil moisture stress across drought-prone soils were evident. Pooled results across all site-years indicated no yield response as plant density increased, but greater yields were observed with the greatest plant densities in the moderate-moisture environments. No advantage for twin-row corn production was observed across five site-years in Alabama, which indicates either row configuration can be successfully adopted.
Highlights
Sporadic summer rainfall combined with coarse-textured soils across the Southeast can limit corn production
Increased aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus has been associated with high temperatures and low average rainfall amounts during the silking to the late dough stage of corn development in southern production areas [4,5,6]. is suggests that timing of moisture deficits may be more important than season-long moisture deficits [7]. e uncertainty associated with experiencing favorable growing conditions for corn across the Southeast has prompted some growers to eliminate corn production from their operations
At E.V. Smith Research Center (EVS), rainfall totals for all three years were below the 10 y average for the location, 2014 was similar (±5%) to the 10 y average (Table 3)
Summary
Sporadic summer rainfall combined with coarse-textured soils across the Southeast can limit corn production. Increased aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus has been associated with high temperatures and low average rainfall amounts during the silking to the late dough stage of corn development in southern production areas [4,5,6]. E uncertainty associated with experiencing favorable growing conditions for corn across the Southeast has prompted some growers to eliminate corn production from their operations. Endale et al [3] attributed the decline in southeastern corn production to producers voluntarily limiting planting to avoid risk of financial loss that may be due to unreliable yields and/or aflatoxin contamination. One production practice that may offset limitations of soils with low water holding capacities for corn production is a conservation system that employs both conservation tillage and cover crops.
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