Total Ash and Potassium Content of Stalks as Related to Stalk Strength in Corn (Zea mays L.)1

Abstract

AbstractThis study was conducted to augment and elucidate results of previous studies with corn which indicated that stalk lodging was positively correlated with ash, potassium, and silicon content of mature stalks. Six stalklodging susceptible and 6 stalk‐lodging resistant inbreds were tested in replicated experiments at 2 locations for 3 years. Total ash and potassium content of mature stalks were determined. The total ash content of the 6 stalk‐lodging resistant lines was smaller than for the 6 stalk‐lodging susceptible lines, and differences between the 2 groups were very large. Potassium content followed about the same pattern as ash content and accounted for about 25% of the ash. Agreement between locations and years‐within‐locations was excellent. The ranking of the 12 inbred lines by ash and potassium content was relatively consistent regardless of year or location. Significant negative correlations were found between ash content and crushing strength, and rind thickness and weight of a 2‐inch section. The association of high ash content with stalk‐lodging susceptible lines supports the findings of earlier studies which indicated a negative relationship between actual field stalk lodging and the three stalk traits evaluated here. The correlation coefficients between potassium and the three stalk traits were negative but none was statistically significant.