Originally published in the Chat 'n Chew Cafe, April 2000
URL: www.kingcorn.org/news/articles.00/Early_Planting-0404.html

Corn Planting Fever!

R.L. (Bob) Nielsen
Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1150
Email address: rnielsen@purdue.edu
 

• Early April plantings of corn are susceptible to many problems.
• Use common sense.

orn Planting Fever! No, it’s not the name of my favorite 70’s disco song. Rather, it simply reflects a fact of life that warm, dry, sunny days in early spring bring on daffodils, crabapple blossoms, dandelions and corn planters. While I do not begrudge those who want to begin planting corn in early April, I feel compelled nonetheless to at least remind them of some of the risks of early corn planting.

An important fact of corn life to remember is that germination and emergence will not occur rapidly or uniformly when soil temperatures are hovering at or below the 50 degree F mark. In Indiana, soils typically do not warm to temperatures consistently above 50 degrees F until mid-April (south) to early May (north). In fact, bare soil temperatures as I write this article are averaging less than 50 degrees F in central and northern Indiana (see figures below). Consequently, it is not uncommon for early April planted corn to emerge three to four weeks after planting.

Early April planted corn will typically yield 4 to 6 percent less than that planted in late April or very early May (see table below). Slowly developing seedlings are more susceptible to damage by soil diseases and insects. Slow, uneven germination and emergence results in uneven stand establishment. If uneven emergence or damage by insects or diseases occur, yield losses can easily increase to as high as 20 percent.

Stand establishment may be so poor as to warrant replanting, which results in greater expense to the producer and possibly less yield than if the field were planted in late April or early May to begin with. By the way, if you have planted prior to April 6 and subsequently need to replant a failed field, don’t count on your crop insurance helping with the replant expenses (personal communication w/ George Patrick, Purdue Ag. Econ.). Check with your insurance agent for details.

Bottom Line …

The point of this discussion is to simply caution corn growers that there is plenty of calendar time within which to plant the 2000 crop before the proverbial end of the prime planting window in early May. If you are bound and determined to plant corn at the first opportunity, then consider the following tips:

• Begin planting with the hybrids in your lineup that are rated best for seedling vigor and/or whose cold germination ratings are the greatest.
• Use one of several available pesticide planter-box seed treatments to hedge against a lengthy period of exposure to soil diseases and insects.
• Avoid early planting in no-till fields with heavy levels of surface trash, because temperatures will be even cooler in those seed beds than in more bare fields.
• Do not plant extra shallow hoping to capitalize on warmer temperatures nearer the surface. A seeding depth of 1 to 1½ inches remains a viable target even with early plantings. Shallower depths are more susceptible to the effects of soil drying, bird and rodent feeding, and uneven planter depth control.
• Apply starter fertilizer in a 2-by-2 placement at rates of nitrogen no less than 20 lbs of actual N per acre.

Fig. 1

Fig 2

Fig. 3

For other information about corn, take a look at the Corn Growers Guidebook on the World Wide Web at http://www.kingcorn.org

It is the policy of the Purdue Agronomy Department that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to its programs and facilities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action employer. This material may be available in alternative formats.

© 2000, Purdue University

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