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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #387778
Research Project: Management Practices for Long Term Productivity of Great Plains Agriculture

Location: Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research

Title: Effects of climate change and narrow rows with higher plant densities on yields of irrigated corn

Author
item Delgado, Jorge
item Floyd, Bradley
item D Adamo, Robert
item VILLACIS, ALEXIS - Arizona State University
item Brandt, Amber
item HALVORSON, ARDELL - Retired ARS Employee
item Stewart, Catherine
item ALWANG, JEFFREY - Arizona State University
item Del Grosso, Stephen - Steve
item Manter, Daniel

Submitted to: Proceedings Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/28/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Climate change is significantly impacting agricultural systems worldwide, and although there are reports of these impacts contributing to higher yields in some regions, the general consensus is that there will be negative impacts on yields and soil quality across large regions. Management practices that can contribute to higher yields and adaptation to a changing climate will be important during the 21st century. This presentation will cover results from two manuscripts that are currently in peer review. One assesses the long-term effects of climate on irrigated yields of corn using data from the Halvorson plots, which are unique long-term irrigated studies that were established in Fort Collins, Colorado. The other assesses the effects of narrow rows with new studies conducted from 2018 to 2020 at the same location. Climate change is occurring at the site and higher yields were correlated with higher average minimum temperatures and growing degree days. Narrow rows (38.1-cm spacing) had 35.7% higher total biomass at physiological maturity and 9.8% higher harvested grain from 2018 to 2020. Additional information about the results from these studies will be presented. The results show that climate change is occurring and irrigation is an adaptive practice that could contribute to higher yields. Management practices such as narrow rows with higher plant densities could contribute to higher silage and grain production, higher water use efficiency, and higher nitrogen use efficiency of these irrigated systems. However, the results also suggest that the dryland corn in the region will be significantly negatively impacted.