Yield Components and Water Use by Silage Corn with Irrigation, Plastic Mulch, Nitrogen Fertilization, and Plant Spacing1

Abstract

AbstractCorn was grown on a Lucedale fine sandy loam soil to determine the effects of irrigation, plastic mulch, N rate, row width, and plant population on yield components and water use by corn. Irrigation, plastic mulch, and higher plant population increased the dry matter yields of all plant parts. Closer row width increased dry matter yields of stalks and leaves but slightly decreased ear yields. Nitrogen rate had little or no effect on dry matter yields of any plant part. Stalks comprised an average of 45% of the total plant dry weight, ears 36%, and leaves 19%.Plastic mulch decreased average daily water use rates during the early part of the growing season but had little effect during the latter part of the season. Row width, plant population level, and N rate had little or no effect on water use rates. Daily water use rates during the season for unirrigated corn averaged 0.29 cm for plastic‐covered plots and 0.31 cm for uncovered plots. Average rates for irrigated corn were 0.34 cm for plasticcovered and 0.47 cm per day for uncovered plots.