CORN VARIETY PERFORMANCE DEMONSTRATION
Fred Hahn, Cooperator
Anthony Netardus, C.E.A., Author
DeWitt County, 1997, Precinct #3
SUMMARY:
14 varieties of corn were compared in the DeWitt County variety demonstration trial in cooperation with Fred Hahn. The highest yielding variety was NC+ 6959 producing 119 bushels per acre. This was a very good year for corn in DeWitt County with the average yield of all varieties being 113 bushels per acre.
PURPOSE:
Variety trials are conducted around the state to determine adaptability and yield potential to particular regions or areas. These 14 dry land varieties will help determine potential varieties for DeWitt County.
PROCEDURE:
Date planted: March 21, 1997
Date harvested: August 12, 1997
Fertilizer: 400 lbs. 18-9-2+2S with 150 lbs. 32-0-0 side dressed
Herbicide: 1 pint Bicept/Acre at planting
Insecticide: 4 lbs. Force/Acre at planting
Varieties were planted in 4 row plots approximately 1/3 acre in size. Harvest weight was taken from combine machine harvest of all 4 rows.
RESULTS:
Conditions were very good for growing corn in DeWitt County in 1997. There was good moisture for most of the growing season. However the rains stopped in about mid to late June and conditions continued to be dry right up till harvest. One more good rainfall event would have helped to increase DeWitt County yields even more.
NC+ 6959 was the highest yielding variety producing 119 bushels per acre. The average of all 14 varieties was 113 bushels per acre. There was not much difference in yields from top to bottom. Only 14 bushels per acre separated the highest yielding variety from the lowest yielding variety. With the corn market priced at $2.35 per bushel, this would be a difference of only $32.90 per acre gross income.
CONCLUSION:
Varieties perform differently from location, soil type and conditions within a county and region or part of the state. Variety selection is critical in any farming operation. County demonstrations and the District standardized tests will give a broader comparison between varieties. Several years of comparing varieties should result in the selection of the most proven varieties.
Table 1.
Standard Corn Variety Evaluation
Fred Hahn Farm
DeWitt County, Texas, 1997
Precint #3
| Rank | Company | Variety | Percent Moisture | Bushel Weight | Yield/Acre (Bu.) |
| 1 | NC+ Hybrid | 6959 | 15.1 | 56.0 | 119 |
| 2 | Garst | 8285 | 14.8 | 57.0 | 117 |
| 3 | Cargill | 8327 | 15.0 | 55.0 | 116 |
| 4 | Triumph | 2010 | 14.7 | 56.0 | 115 |
| 5 | Agri Pro | 9909 | 14.9 | 57.0 | 115 |
| 6 | Garst | 8325 | 15.5 | 55.0 | 115 |
| 7 | Asgrow | XP 7906 | 13.8 | 56.5 | 115 |
| 8 | Texas Seed | 8811 | 15.6 | 56.0 | 114 |
| 9 | Pogue | 4020 | 14.8 | 57.0 | 112 |
| 10 | Texas Seed | 8801 | 15.3 | 57.0 | 112 |
| 11 | Texas Seed | 799 | 15.3 | 57.0 | 110 |
| 12 | Pioneer | 3156 | 15.9 | 58.0 | 110 |
| 13 | DeKalb | 687 | 15.4 | 57.0 | 110 |
| 14 | Warner | 2170 | 15.3 | 58.0 | 105 |
| AVERAGES: | 15.1 | 56.6 | 113 |
NOTE: Yields adjusted to 15% moisture