Successfully managing dryland corn requires a well-planned system to achieve the best results with limited moisture.

This research trial compares a Bayer system of corn and herbicide products to a competitive system of corn and herbicide products in a dryland environment.

The study design was a randomized complete block with 12 treatments and four replications.

Four Bayer corn products and two competitive corn products were planted at 16,000 and 22,000 seeds/acre, to simulate the lower and upper range of dryland seeding rates in the area. From Gothenburg, seeding rates trend lower as you move west and higher as you move east.

The previous crop was grain sorghum to provide a drier environment to stress the dryland corn systems.

Treatments 1 through 8 were planted to Bayer corn products and received a pre-emergence herbicide application of Balance® Flexx herbicide (0.125 qt/acre), Harness® Xtra 5.6L herbicide (2 qt/acre), Roundup PowerMAX® herbicide (1 qt/acre) and AMS (17 lb/100 gal), and a V6 application of DiFlexx® herbicide (0.25 qt/acre), AAtrex® 4L herbicide (0.5 qt/acre), Roundup PowerMAX herbicide (1 qt/acre) and AMS (17 lb/100 gal). 

Treatments 9 through 12 were planted to competitive brand corn products and received a pre-emergence herbicide application of Cinch® ATZ herbicide (2.25 qt/acre), Sterling Blue® herbicide (0.125 qt/acre), Durango® DMA® herbicide (1.1 qt/acre) and AMS (17 lb/100 gal), and a V6 application of Sterling Blue herbicide (0.25 qt/acre), AAtrex 4L herbicide (0.5 qt/acre), Durango DMA herbicide (1.1 qt/acre) and AMS (17 lb/100 gal).    

The pre-emergence herbicide application occurred on 5/9/2020, and the V6 application occurred on 6/30/2020. 

Fertility applied with a Chafer Streambar included 20 lb nitrogen/acre, 50 lb phosphorus/acre, 11 lb sulfur/acre on 4/14/2020 and 150 lb nitrogen/acre applied 4/27/20. 

No other pesticides were used in this trial.

2020 was a dry year with below average precipitation during the growing season particularly during grain fill. Precipitation was 5.18 inches in May, 1.56 inches in June, 4.19 inches in July, 0.51 inches in August, and 0.5 inch in September.

At harvest, yield was collected as a measure of system performance.

For this trial, the Bayer corn production system had an average yield advantage of over 30 bu/acre at a planting rate of 16,000 seeds/acre and over 25 bu/acre at 22,000 seeds/acre (Figure 2). 

Returns, based on the yield advantage, a seed cost of $250/80K unit, and $3.80/bu for commodity corn showed a Bayer corn production system advantage of $143/acre for 16,000 seeds/acre and $116/acre for 22,000 seeds/acre over the competitive corn production system.  

Increasing the seeding rate by 6,000 seeds/acre improved the yield for both systems.

The increase in seeding rate also improved the return/acre for both systems when the seed cost was set at $250/80K unit of seed and a corn price of $3.80/bu. 

For every dollar spent on seed, moving from 16,000 seeds/acre to 22,000 seeds/acre returned $3.53 in the Bayer production system.

Improving profitability potential on dryland acres is a key revenue driver on many farms. It is also an uncertain one because precipitation plays a much larger part in yield potential than it does for fully irrigated acre.

2020 was a below average season in terms of precipitation with very low rainfall totals during the grain fill period in August and September.

In the tough environment, the Bayer dryland corn production system outperformed the competitive corn production system at both seeding rates.

For this trial, increasing the seeding rate from 16,000 seeds/acre to 22,000 seeds/acre provided better average yields and returns in a year when precipitation was limited. 

Corn product selection is a critical component of a tailored solution, please consult your seed representative to help you select the best corn products for your farm.