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Pennsylvania Commercial Hybrid Corn Tests Report

Early medium-season hybrids (Maturity Zone 2) 1997 results

Tests of commercially available corn hybrids are conducted annually at several locations in each of the four maturity zones in Pennsylvania to provide farmers, seed producers, county extension agents, and other interested persons with information about hybrid performance. This report includes both the grain and silage results from the 1997 season.

Tables 1 and 2 contain the combined results for all locations in this zone, except as noted. Those in Table 1 are for the advanced hybrids tested previously for at least one year, and those in Table 2 are for new hybrid entries. New entries are tested for at least one year before being included in the advanced tests. A two-year summary of results for hybrids tested in both 1996 and 1997 growing seasons is given in Table 3. The results for hybrids entered in the silage performance test are given in Table 4.

Procedures

This testing program was available to any producer of hybrid seed corn. For the grain tests, hybrids were planted in paired-row plots of 1/500 of an acre. Each row was overplanted—36 kernels per row—and thinned when the corn was 12-18 inches tall. The final population was either 24,000 or 26,000 plants per acre. Silage plots were 1/1,000 acre in size, consisting of one row overplanted to 38 kernels and thinned to a final population of 28,000 plants per acre. All entries were replicated three times in each test.

Test plots were planted with modified mechanical planters. Grain-test plots were harvested with a self-propelled combine equipped with electronic instrumentation for determining weight and moisture. Silage plots were harvested with a forage harvester. Grain yields are reported as bushels per acre while grain moisture and erect plants are reported as percentages. Shelled grain yields were standardized at 15.5 percent grain moisture. Percentage of checks for each hybrid was based on the mean of five check hybrids and calculated for moisture, yield, and erect plants. Silage results are reported as actual field yield in tons per acre, calculated on the basis of 65 percent moisture, tons of dry matter per acre, and moisture content. Disease ratings were based on a scale of 0.5 to 5.0, progressing from little or no disease to premature death.

Growing conditions

For this zone soil moisture and temperature were below normal during May. Planting was begun April 30 and completed May 13. Heat units tended to be lower than normal and moisture levels were below normal throughout early summer with nearly adequate rainfall after late July for most areas in this zone. Thus, ear and grain development were behind normal most of the season. Due to uncontrolled variability (probably because of the conditions mentioned above), data from the Mercer County location was not used in the following tables. Harvesting in the zone was completed by mid-November.

Diseases, insects, and other pests

Hybrids grown at the Centre County location were inoculated with the fungus causing northern leaf blight (NLB) and the hybrids grown at the Clinton County location were inoculated with the above fungus plus the fungus causing gray leaf spot (GLS). Dry conditions prevented disease development until late in the growing season at the Centre County site. Disease ratings were made in mid-September and are presented in Tables 1 and 2. At the Clinton County site, disease development was minimal for both diseases and ratings were not made. Very few broken plants, an indication of stalk rot, were observed at all locations in this zone. Leaf diseases were also minimal at all locations in this zone. Birds and animals were not a problem at any of the locations. Corn insect pressures were light to not apparent at all locations.

Interpretation of results

Least significant differences (LSD) is the tool used to determine if two average values are actually different statistically. The difference between two hybrids must exceed the LSD value to be considered significantly different. Example for yield: LSD = 8.1 Bu/A; Hybrid X = 120.0 Bu/A; Hybrid Y = 105.0 Bu/A; 120.0 - 105 = 15.0 Bu/A difference. Since the difference between Hybrid X and Y (15.0 Bu/A) exceeded the LSD (8.1 Bu/A), Hybrid X was higher yielding due to hybrid superiority and not simply as a result of uncontrolled environmental factors.

Cooperators and locations

Early medium-season hybrids were evaluated with the cooperation of the following persons: William England, Blair County; Dotterer Farms, Clinton County; Craig Richards, Columbia County; Dave Rakestraw, Lycoming County; Les Firth, Mercer County; and the Penn State Agronomy Farm, Centre County.

Results of the tests for short-season, early medium-season, late medium-season, and late-season hybrids are available as separate reports from county offices of Penn State Cooperative Extension.

Members of the county-based extension staff assisted in conducting these tests. Their efforts were essential to the successful completion of the trials and were greatly appreciated.

Prepared by L. D. Hoffman, J. E. Ayers, W. R. Haas and J. Shaffer.

The tables in this report may be reproduced only in their entirety.


Advanced Entries

Table 1. Early medium-season hybrid performances (Maturity Zone 2). Combined Penn State Commercial Advanced Entries (average of five locations). Data under Location Means indicate counties where values were obtained.

BRAND-HYBRID PERCENT-OF-CHECK %H2O
GRAIN		 BU/A
GRAIN		 %
ERECT		 NLB
RATING
H20 YIELD ERECT
NC+ 3613 95.8 103.9 100.1 27.2 151.3 98.7 1.6
EASTLAND E540 96.1 94.8 100.6 27.3 138.0 99.2 1.4
PIONEER 3525 96.1 104.4 99.4 27.3 152.0 98.0 1.2
ASGROW RX601 96.5 93.5 99.7 27.4 136.1 98.3 1.3
PIONEER 3527 97.2 85.4 100.0 27.6 124.4 98.6 1.0
FUNK'S G-4394 97.5 92.4 100.2 27.7 134.5 98.8 1.1
DEKALB DK546 100.0 109.1 100.0 28.4 158.9 98.6 0.5
AGRIPRO AP9460 100.0 96.7 99.8 28.4 140.8 98.4 0.5
GRIES GSF4203 100.4 102.0 100.1 28.5 148.5 98.7 0.9
BEACHLEY HARDY BH4612 100.7 103.3 98.5 28.6 150.4 97.1 1.4
TERRA TR1066 101.1 111.3 99.6 28.7 162.1 98.2 1.2
DOEBLER'S 596XY 101.4 107.8 98.5 28.8 157.0 97.1 0.7
CARGILL 6888 101.8 105.6 100.8 28.9 153.8 99.4 1.2
DOEBLER'S 62XP 102.1 106.3 99.5 29.0 154.8 98.1 0.9
GRIES GSF6211 102.5 103.4 99.9 29.1 150.5 98.5 1.0
NC+ 4646 102.5 104.9 100.0 29.1 152.8 98.6 0.9
MYCOGEN 2725 102.5 99.0 99.8 29.1 144.1 98.4 1.0
DOEBLER'S 66XP 102.5 87.2 99.8 29.1 127.0 98.4 0.6
EASTLAND E624 103.2 108.0 100.0 29.3 157.3 98.6 0.8
AGWAY AG657 103.5 100.8 99.2 29.4 146.8 97.8 1.2
DOEBLER'S 636XY 104.9 103.3 101.0 29.8 150.4 99.6 1.0
SCHLESSMAN SX696 105.6 103.0 100.0 30.0 149.9 98.6 0.7
MEANS 100.4 101.4 99.8 28.5 147.6 98.4 1.0
LSD (.05) 0.7 10.4 1.2 0.4
LOCATION MEANS
Columbia 29.2 161.8 96.2
Lycoming 28.5 145.2 99.0
Blair 27.6 120.4 99.8
Centre 28.4 155.0 98.8 1.0
Clinton 28.8 155.9 98.3

New Entries

Table 2. Early medium-season hybrid performances (Maturity Zone 2). Combined Penn State Commercial New Entries average of five locations). Data under Location Means indicate counties where values were obtained.

BRAND-HYBRID PERCENT-OF-CHECK %H2O
GRAIN		 BU/A
GRAIN		 %
ERECT		 NLB
RATING
H20 YIELD ERECT
HUBNER H9685 82.9 40.5 97.9 23.7 60.1 96.1 2.0
CHEMGRO 6545 90.6 78.7 98.5 25.9 116.8 96.7 1.5
GARST 8640 92.0 94.3 100.8 26.3 140.0 99.0 1.7
PIONEER 36K27 95.5 102.4 100.5 27.3 152.0 98.7 1.3
NC+ 3877 97.2 96.5 100.6 27.8 143.2 98.8 1.2
FUNK'S G-4394 97.6 91.8 100.7 27.9 136.3 98.9 1.3
HUBNER H3605 98.3 91.8 97.8 28.1 136.2 96.0 1.5
EASTLAND E540 98.6 89.6 100.3 28.2 132.9 98.5 0.9
PIONEER 3525 98.6 101.1 99.4 28.2 150.1 97.6 1.0
DEKALB DK595 99.0 114.4 100.7 28.3 169.7 98.9 1.2
AGWAY AG576 99.0 107.4 99.9 28.3 159.4 98.1 0.7
CHEMGRO 6626 99.0 102.0 100.3 28.3 151.4 98.5 1.0
TERRA TR1087 100.0 109.8 99.3 28.6 162.9 97.5 1.1
TERRA E1047 100.0 104.0 99.9 28.6 154.3 98.1 0.8
DYNAGRO 5322 100.0 103.1 100.0 28.6 153.0 98.2 0.5
CHEMGRO 6848 100.0 109.0 100.1 28.6 161.7 98.3 1.3
AGWAY AG657 100.3 111.5 100.2 28.7 165.4 98.4 0.7
CHEMGRO 6742 100.3 105.1 99.7 28.7 156.0 97.9 0.8
PIONEER 34G81 101.7 105.1 100.7 29.1 156.0 98.9 0.7
DOEBLER'S 642XP 102.1 104.3 100.4 29.2 154.8 98.6 1.5
MYCOGEN 2787 104.9 102.5 101.0 30.0 152.1 99.2 0.9
MYCOGEN 2772 105.2 109.6 101.3 30.1 162.7 99.5 0.7
DOEBLER'S 636XY 105.6 96.2 99.8 30.2 142.7 98.0 0.5
MEANS 98.3 97.8 100.0 28.1 145.1 98.2 1.1
LSD (.05) 1.0 9.7 1.3 0.5
LOCATION MEANS
Columbia 28.3 159.9 95.6
Lycoming 28.2 152.7 98.6
Blair 26.5 112.6 99.8
Centre 29.2 144.9 98.8 1.1
Clinton 28.1 155.3 97.9

Two-Year Average Performance

Table 3. Early-medium season hybrids mean performance, 1996-97 (Maturity Zone 2).

BRAND-HYBRID PERCENT-OF-CHECK %H2O
GRAIN		 BU/A
GRAIN		 %
ERECT
H20 YIELD ERECT
ASGROW RX601 97.3 91.2 99.8 25.9 148.9 96.8
NORTHRUP KING N5220 98.2 100.9 100.0 26.1 164.7 97.0
NC+ 3613 100.4 98.5 99.0 26.7 160.7 96.0
DEKALB DK546 100.6 101.4 99.6 26.8 165.5 96.6
GRIES GSF4203 100.9 103.5 101.3 26.8 168.9 98.2
PIONEER 3525 100.9 102.9 98.7 26.8 167.9 95.8
EASTLAND E540 101.4 89.0 100.3 27.0 145.2 97.3
FUNK'S G-4394 101.5 96.3 101.1 27.0 157.1 98.1
AGRIPRO AP9460 102.0 99.4 99.0 27.1 162.2 96.0
CARGILL 6888 104.5 105.1 100.6 27.8 171.6 97.6
MYCOGEN 2725 104.4 100.7 99.6 27.8 164.4 96.6
TERRA TR1087 105.2 110.0 100.9 28.0 179.5 97.9
NC+ 4646 106.4 103.5 101.0 28.3 168.9 97.9
SCHLESSMAN SX696 106.4 103.8 100.8 28.3 169.3 97.8
GRIES GSF6211 106.7 103.1 101.0 28.4 168.3 97.9
DOEBLER'S 62XP 107.3 103.8 100.0 28.5 169.4 97.0
DOEBLER'S 636XY 107.1 102.4 100.8 28.5 167.1 97.8
BEACHLEY HARDY BH6412 107.8 101.2 100.0 28.7 165.2 97.0
AGWAY AG657 108.1 102.7 100.8 28.8 167.6 97.8
MEANS 103.5 101.0 100.2 27.5 164.9 97.2

Silage Entries

Table 4. Silage performances of early medium-season hybrids (Maturity Zone 2).

BRAND-HYBRID YIELD
(T/A)		 % H2OPLANT
DRY MATPLANT (T/A)
CARGILL 6327 17.8 65.8 6.1
DEKALB DK595 18.5 66.5 6.3
DOEBLER'S 596XY 19.0 67.1 6.3
EASTLAND E590 20.2 67.4 6.6
CARGILL 6511FQ 19.8 67.7 6.4
AGRIPRO AP9572 20.1 68.2 6.4
GOLDEN HARVEST EX527 19.4 68.6 6.1
DOEBLER'S 737XP 18.3 69.0 5.7
PIONEER 3437 19.3 69.2 5.9
CARGILL 6208FQ 20.2 71.3 5.7
MEANS 19.1 68.7 6.0
LSD (.05) 2.3 2.1 1.0


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Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and resident education programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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