Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #369548
Research Project: Sustainable Intensification of Cropping Systems on Spatially Variable Landscapes and Soils

Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research

Title: Optimizing corn seeding depth by soil texture and landscape position to improve emergence uniformity

Author
item STEWART, STIRLING - University Of Missouri
item Kitchen, Newell
item CONWAY, LANCE - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/25/2019
Publication Date: 11/10/2019
Citation: Stewart, S., Kitchen, N.R., Conway, L. 2019. Optimizing corn seeding depth by soil texture and landscape position to improve emergence uniformity [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual International Conference, November 10-13, 2019, San Antonio, Texas. Available: https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2019am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/117976

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Corn (Zea mays L.) yield potential can be affected by uneven emergence. Corn emergence uniformity is dependent on the immediate seed environment. Adjusting corn seeding depth may improve emergence uniformity in varying soil textures and landscape positions. This study was conducted to assess varying corn seeding depths on plant emergence uniformity on fine- and coarse-textured soils of an alluvial soil, and over summit-, side-, and foot-slope positions of an alfisol claypan soil landscape. Planting treatments included four seeding depths (38, 51, 64, and 76 mm). Initial results from the first two years (2017-2018) of the three year project showed that corn emerged quicker at the shallowest depth (38 mm) on the coarser soil. However, in the fine textured soil corn emerged more evenly at the deepest planting depth (76 mm). Preliminary results suggest that corn planted deeper in fine-textured soils have improved emergence uniformity and higher yield potential. Planting depth may have little influence on corn emergence in coarser-textured soils. These results indicate that variable seeding depth may be beneficial on fields with large variations in soil texture.