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Title: Impact of drought genetics on irrigated corn production

Author
item SCHNEEKLOTH, J - Colorado State University
item Nielsen, David
item AIKEN, R - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2014
Publication Date: 2/25/2014
Citation: Schneekloth, J.P., Nielsen, D.C., Aiken, R.M. 2014. Impact of drought genetics on irrigated corn production. Meeting Proceedings. Proc. 26th Annual Central Plains Irrigation Conference and Exposition. Pg. 34-39. Feb. 25-26, 2014. Colby, KS.

Interpretive Summary: Declining irrigation well capacity will likely lead to implementation of limited irrigated production systems for corn in the High Plains of Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. The results of this study indicated that corn hybrids with drought genetics will likely have greater yields under limited irrigation conditions in which water stress occurs than hybrids without the drought genetics

Technical Abstract: Corn is the major irrigated crop in the High Plains of Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. Declining water levels in the High Plains Aquifer have reduced well capacity such that limited irrigation strategies must be employed. Crop breeding advances have led to the introduction of drought resistant hybrids. The objective of this study was to determine yield capacity of corn hybrids having drought genetics under varying water supplies. The study was conducted at Akron, CO and Colby KS in 2012 and 2013. Six corn hybrids (three with a drought gene and three without a drought gene) were grown under three or four irrigation regimes (irrigation withheld during vegetative, flowering, or early grain-filling stages, mid-grain-filling). Relative maturity ranged from 99 days to 108 days. Water stress was quantified with weekly canopy temperature measurements used to calculate the Crop Water Stress Index. Drought genetics generally improved yields under water stress, but this result was observed most markedly in the 108-day hybrid. Corn yield loss was most closely associated with water stress occurring in the tasseling to silking (VT-R1) flowering growth stage.