2022 Ohio Corn Performance Test
2023 OHIO CORN PERFORMANCE TEST
R.J. Minyo and O. Ortez, Horticulture & Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) M.A. Lowe, CFAES Wooster Research Operations and D.G. Lohnes, CFAES Information Technology
Ohio State University Extension/Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center
The purpose of the Ohio Corn Performance Test (OCPT) is to evaluate corn hybrids for grain yield and other important agronomic characteristics. Results of the test can assist farmers in selecting hybrids best suited to their farming operations and production environments as well as complement recommendations made by seed companies and breeding programs. Corn hybrids differ considerably in yield potential, standability, maturity, and other agronomic characteristics that affect profitable crop production. Hybrid selection should be based on proven performance from multiple test locations and years. The presentation of results in this report does not imply endorsement of any hybrid by The Ohio State University.
EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Seed companies marketing corn hybrids in Ohio are invited to enter hybrids in the test. An entry fee is charged to cover expenses. In 2023, companies were permitted to enter an unlimited number of hybrids. Ten sites were available for hybrid evaluation covering three regions of Ohio (Southwestern/West Central/Central; Northwestern; North Central/ Northeastern). Seed companies were required to enter a hybrid at all the sites within a testing region. Each hybrid entry was evaluated using three replications per site in a randomized complete block design. Hybrids were planted either in an early or full season maturity trial based on relative maturity information provided by the companies. In the Southwestern/West Central/Central region, the relative maturity of hybrid entries in the early maturity trial was 111 days or earlier; the relative maturity of hybrid entries in the full season trial was 112 days or later. In the Northwestern and North Central/Northeastern regions, the relative maturity of hybrid entries in the early maturity trial was 108 days or earlier; the relative maturity of hybrid entries in the full season trial was 109 days or later. Hybrids were planted with an Almaco Seed Pro 360 plot planter with SkyTrip GPS. Each plot consisted of four 30-inch rows approximately 25 feet long. Force 6.5 soil insecticide was applied in a T-band to all plots. Seed companies selected a final stand and percent overplant for each hybrid entered. Fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, and foliar fungicides were applied according to recommended cultural practices for obtaining optimum grain yields. Details concerning the establishment and management of each 2023 test are listed in footnotes below the tables for each location.
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SITE INFORMATION |
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| SITE | BUCYRUS | WOOSTER | COLUMBIANA |
| SOIL TYPE | CANFIELD SILT LOAM | CANFIELD SILT LOAM | |
| SOIL TEST (pH,P,K) | |||
| PREVIOUS CROP | CORN | DOUBLE CROP SOYBEANS | |
| PLANTING /HARVEST DATES | MAY 22 / NOV 9 | MAY 25 / NOV. 14 | |
| TILLAGE | MINIMUM TILL | MINIMUM TILL | |
| FERTILIZER (N,P,K) | 237, 95, 90, 12S | 228, 26, 137, 19S | |
| COOPERATOR | CRAWFORD COUNTY EXTENSION | MIKE SWORD / KEN SCAIFE, CFAES WOOSTER | MYRON WEHR |
| FUNGICIDE | NO | YES | |
| COUNTY | CRAWFORD | WAYNE | COLUMBIANA |
| SITE | VAN WERT | HOYTVILLE | UPPER SANDUSKY |
| SOIL TYPE | PEWAMO SILTY CLAY LOAM | HOYTVILLE CLAY | BLOUNT SILT LOAM |
| SOIL TEST (pH,P,K) | |||
| PREVIOUS CROP | SOYBEANS | SOYBEANS | |
| PLANTING /HARVEST DATES | MAY 6 / NOV. 2 | MAY 18 / NOV 28 | |
| TILLAGE | STRIP TILL | MINIMUM TILL | |
| FERTILIZER (N,P,K) | 225, 26, 120, 6S | 224, 104, 90, 6S | |
| FUNGICIDE | YES | YES | |
| COOPERATOR | NICK WILLIAMS FARM | MATT DAVIS, CFAES Outlying Stations | LARRY ROSS FARM |
| COUNTY | VAN WERT | WOOD | WYANDOT |
| SITE | SOUTH CHARLESTON | WASHINGTON C.H. | GREENVILLE |
| SOIL TYPE | KOKOMO SILT LOAM | PATTON SILTY CLAY LOAM | CROSBY SILT LOAM |
| SOIL TEST (pH,P,K) | |||
| PREVIOUS CROP | SOYBEAN | SOYBEANS | WHEAT |
| PLANTING /HARVEST DATES | MAY 24 / NOV 19 | MAY 15 / NOV 3 | MAY 11 / OCT 25 |
| TILLAGE | STALE SEEDBED | MINIMUM TILL | STALE SEEDBED |
| FERTILIZER (N,P,K) | 240, 26, 40, 6S | 238, 156, 195, 6S | 210, 26, 0, 6S |
| FUNGICIDE | YES | YES | YES |
| COOPERATOR | JOE DAVLIN, CFAES Outlying Stations | SOLLARS FARM | STUMP FARMS |
| COUNTY | CLARK | FAYETTE | DARKE |
| SITE | HEBRON | ||
| SOIL TYPE | LURAY SILTY CLAY LOAM | ||
| SOIL TEST (pH,P,K) | |||
| PREVIOUS CROP | CORN | ||
| PLANTING /HARVEST DATES | MAY 23 / NOV 30 | ||
| TILLAGE | MINIMUM TILL | ||
| FERTILIZER (N,P,K) | 265, 26, 120, 6S | ||
| FUNGICDE | YES (2 Applications) | ||
| COOPERATOR | PARRISH FARMS | ||
| COUNTY | LICKING | ||
Soil Test reported as Melich3 ppm / Fertilizer N, P, K & S reported as lbs./acre.
MEASUREMENTS AND RECORDS
YIELD. The center two rows of each plot were harvested with a self propelled two row research combine. Yields were reported as bushels of grain per acre (Bu/A) at 15.5 percent moisture.
MOISTURE (Harv Mst). A grain moisture determination was made from each plot with an electrical conductance moisture meter. Grain moisture was reported as percent grain moisture.
LODGING (Stk Ldg) The number of broken stalks in each plot was determined prior to harvest. Only those plants with a stalk broken below the ear were considered stalk lodged. Stalk lodging was reported as a percentage of final plant stand.
FINAL STAND (Final Std). Seed companies selected a desired planting rate for each hybrid entered. Differences between the planting rate and the final stand may be attributed to seed quality and/or environmental conditions present. Populations were reported in hundreds per acre (100/A).
EMERGENCE (Emg). An emergence count was made on each plot after plant emergence. The emergence percentage was computed based on the number of plants and the number of seeds planted and was reported as a percentage of the seeds planted.
TEST WEIGHT (TW). Test weights were recorded in pounds per bushel on grain samples at field moisture. The results are a summary (average) of all sites in each region.
LSD 0.10 - Least Significant Differences at probability level 0.10 (LSD 0.10) are reported for yield and other agronomic characteristics. Differences between hybrids are significant only if they are equal to or greater than the LSD value. If a given hybrid out yields another hybrid by as much or more than the LSD value, then we are 90% confident (i.e., the odds are 10:1) that the yield difference is real, with only a 10% probability that the difference is due to chance variation (such as soil variation, etc.). For example, if Hybrid X is 19 Bu/A higher in yield than Hybrid Y, then this difference is statistically significant if the LSD is 19 Bu/A or less. If the LSD is 20 Bu/A or greater, then we are less confident that Hybrid X is really higher yielding than Hybrid Y under conditions of the test. If ‘NS’ is indicated for a characteristic, then the differences among hybrid entries are not significant at the 10% probability level.
2023 GROWING CONDITIONS
Overall, growing conditions in 2023 were favorable for most areas of the state. The first part of April saw cold and wet conditions which led to a slow start to the planting season. Dryer conditions in late April opened up a planting window and allowed producers to get a start on planting. Planting progress in early May started slowly with cool wet soil conditions. The weather pattern shifted to a warmer and dryer period allowing planting to progress rapidly during the second half of the month. By May 7, only 11% of corn was planted in Ohio, according to USDA reports. By May 14, planting progress had advanced to 26% percent. Most planting progress came in the last part of May, with 89% of Ohio’s corn planted by May 28. In some areas of the state, the end of May and early June became abnormally dry which resulted in crop variability and emergence issues. During the growing season, most of the 2023 crop’s progress was behind when compared to 2022 and the 5-year average in Ohio, resulting in delayed crop maturity, dry down and harvest.
Rainfall for the 2023 growing season was variable across sites; it ranged from 14.6 inches, (Greenville) to 21.7 inches (Hebron) in the Southwest/West Central Region. Growing degree day, GDD, accumulation was below average for the entire growing season this year. In June the average temperature was 4.5°F below average and 1.5°F below average in July and August. Often when growing degree day accumulation is below average early in the season it is above average later in the season. This year by the end of June OCPT sites were 225 GDDs below normal with this trend continuing with GDD accumulation 340 below average by the end of September when most corn should have normally reached black layer.
Foliar diseases (gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, and tar spot) were present at harvest at nearly all sites. Seven of the 9 sites had fungicide applied between VT/R1 and early brown silk (R2) but still had disease present at harvest. Ear rots (primarily Gibberella and/or Diplodia) were present at most sites. The severity of the disease pressure was variable by location, and hybrid differences were observed. At some locations, with select hybrids tar spot caused early plant death before black layer reducing test weight and yield. The delayed maturity also caused some hybrids to be frost-killed in a few locations before black layer. In locations where tar spot appeared late in the season, less yield impact was observed.
Harvest progress was slow this fall due to below normal temperatures, which delayed plant maturity, leading to above average grain moisture with below normal drying conditions. The harvest was further delayed by challenges in transportation when elevators reached drying/storage capacity and reduced operating hours.
RESULTS
Results of the 2023 testing program are presented in Tables 1 to 10. Yields and other agronomic performance characteristics have been averaged across the individual test sites and shown under the SUMMARY heading for each region in Tables 1 through 9. A combined regional summary of hybrid performance is presented in Table 10. The brand, seed source, hybrid number, and table location for hybrids tested in 2023 are summarized in Table 11. Hybrids are listed in alphabetical order by brand. Additionally, the technology traits (e.g., herbicide and insect resistant events) and seed treatments (e.g., insecticide and fungicide) associated with each hybrid entry are indicated in Table 11 (information provided by seed companies).
Yields varied across the state depending on planting dates, rainfall distribution, timing, total precipitation received, and disease pressure. Despite fluctuating temperatures and variable precipitation during grain fill, OCPT yields exceeded expectations. Averaged across hybrid entries in the early and full season tests, yields were 298 Bu/A in the Southwestern/West Central/Central region, 261 Bu/A in the Northwestern region, and 271 Bu/A in the North Central/Northeastern region. Yields at individual test sites, averaged across hybrid entries in the early and full season tests, ranged from 228 Bu/A at Hoytville to 314 Bu/A at Hebron.
Gibberella Ear Rot (GER) and other ear molds were observed in some hybrids at most locations. Visual disease levels varied greatly by hybrid. Locational differences were harder to verify as harvest was pushed later due to environmental factor GER severity also increased at those locations. Tar spot was present at all locations at harvest with the exception being Hebron which had 2 fungicide applications at VT/R1 and 21 days later. The Northwest Agricultural Research Station (Hoytville) had the most severe tar spot infection impact. Some hybrids at this location died much earlier than they would have naturally potentially reducing yield. Tar Spot in Wooster appeared later than Hoytville and reduced top end yield while at most other locations the tar spot impact was primarily to test weight.
Confidence in test results increases with the number of years and the number of locations in which the hybrid is tested. Table 10 presents combined performance data for hybrids tested at five and seven locations in 2023. Tables 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 provide multiple year performance data as well. Look for consistency in a hybrid’s performance across a range of environmental conditions. Yield, standability, grain moisture, and other comparisons should be considered between hybrids of similar maturity to determine those best adapted to each location or region.
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu. For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility
Acknowlegements
We thank our farmer cooperators for their contributions to the 2023 corn hybrid testing program. We are grateful for the assistance provided by Matt Lowe, OSU Farm Operations-Wooster, establishing the test plots, Joe Davlin, OSU-OARDC Western Agricultural Research Station, Matt Davis, OSU-OARDC Northwest Agricultural Research Station and Ken Scaife and Mike Sword, OSU-OARDC Wooster. We thank Stacy Cochran and Juliette Portisch, CFAES Knowledge Exchange, for their assistance in preparing the 2023 test results for publication.