1996 General Information, Seed Sources, Weather Tables
Test Program
Selection of entries. Each year, producers of hybrid seed corn
and sorghum varieties in Illinois and surrounding states are invited to
enter hybrids in the Illinois performance trials. This testing program
is financed by a fee of $65 or $75 for each corn or sorghum hybrid entered,
respectively, at a location. Most of these hybrids are commercially available,
although a few experimental hybrids are also entered.
Number and location of tests. In 1996, 10 major tests were conducted
at 9 locations in the state (see map). These sites represent major soil
and climatic areas of the state.
Hybrids. There were 560 hybrids from 71 companies tested in 1996.
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Field plot design. Three replications of an Alpha design were used to
give each entry an equal chance to show its merits.
Planting Methods. All trials were planted by machine. Each hybrid plot
was overplanted 30 percent and later thinned to desired stands. Each plot was
four rows wide and either 23 or 25 feet long. The center two rows of each plot
were harvested to determine yields.
Fertilization. All test fields were at a high level of fertility. Additional
fertilizer was plowed down or sidedressed as needed to ensure top yields.
Method of harvest. All plots were harvested with a custom-built, self-propelled,
corn plot combine. Shelled corn from each plot was collected, weighed, and tested
for moisture content. No allowance was made for corn that might have been lost
in harvest.
Performance Data
Grain Yield. Shelled-corn weight and moisture percentage were measured
for each plot of a hybrid and converted to bushels per acre of No. 2 shelled
corn (15.5 percent moisture). An electronic moisture monitor was used in the
combine for all moisture readings.
Moisture content. Occasionally, hybrids too late in maturity for a given
area are entered in these tests. These hybrids are often high in yield, but
their moisture content may make them poor choices for farm use unless proper
drying or storage facilities are available.
Erect plants. The number of erect plants in each plot of a hybrid was
determined at harvest time. Any plant leaning at an angle of more than 45 degrees
or broken below the ear was considered lodged. Plants broken above the ear were
considered erect.
Population. Plots were overplanted and thinned to the desired population.
Stand differences may be caused by failure to germinate or by damage from diseases,
insects, cultivation, or rodents.
Head Exertion. Sorghum hybrids were measured in late August for length
of seed head exsertion from the flag leaf to the base of the seed head (expressed
in inches).
Plant Height. Sorghum hybrids were measured in late August from the
ground to the top of the seed head (expressed in inches).
Head Compactness. Sorghum hybrids were rated in late August for seed
head compactness. A rating of 1 was given for tightly compacted seed heads,
2 for moderate compactness, 3 for loose compactness.
Suggestions for Comparing Entries
It is impossible to measure performance exactly in any test of plant material.
Harvesting efficiency may vary, soils may not be uniform, and many other conditions
may produce variability. Results of repeated tests, like those reported here,
are more reliable than those of a single-year or a single-strip test. When one
hybrid consistently outyields another at several test locations and over several
years of testing, the chances are good that this difference is real and should
be a consideration in choosing a hybrid. When comparing yields, however, grain
moisture content, percentage of erect plants, and plant population must also
be considered.
A number of statistical tests are available for comparing hybrids within a
single trial. One of these tests, the least significant difference (L.S.D.),
when used in the manner suggested by Carmer and Swanson,1 is quite simple to
apply and is more appropriate than most other tests. When two hybrids are compared
and the difference between them is greater than the tabulated L.S.D. value,
the hybrids are judged "significantly different."
The L.S.D. is a number expressed in bushels per acre and presented following
the average yield for each location. L.S.D.'s of 10% and 30% are shown, if the
10% L.S.D. is used, decisions made are true 9 out of 10 years, the 30% L.S.D.
will be true 7 out of 10 years. The 30% L.S.D. is a smaller number and will
include fewer hybrids in the 'top group'. Decide the L.S.D. level that is best
for your farm and find the highest yielding hybrid at the location, subtract
the chosen L.S.D. level from the highest yielding hybrid, every hybrid with
a greater yield than the resulting number is 'statistically the same' as the
highest yielding hybrid. Consider the merits of the hybrids in this group when
making hybrid selections.
In a study of the frequencies of occurrence of three types of statistical errors
and their relative seriousness, Carmer2 found strong arguments for an optimal
significance level in the range a = 0.20 to 0.40, where a is the Type I statistical
error rate for comparisons between means that are really equal. Herein, values
of a = 0.10 and 0.30 are used in computing the L.S.D. 10- and 30-percent levels
shown in the tables.
To make the best use of the information presented in this circular and to avoid
any misunderstanding or misrepresentation of it, the reader should consider
an additional caution about comparing hybrids. Readers who compare hybrids in
different trials should be extremely careful, because no statistical tests are
presented for that purpose. Readers should note that the difference between
a single hybrid's performance at one location and its performance at another
is caused primarily by environmental effects and random variability. Furthermore,
the difference between the performance of hybrid A in one trial and that of
hybrid B in another is the result not only of environmental effects and random
variability, but of genetic effects as well.
1Carmer, S.G. and M.R. Swanson. "An
Evaluation of Ten Pairwise Multiple Comparison Procedures by Monte Carlo Methods."
Journal of American Statistical Association 68:66-74. 1973.
2Carmer, S.G. "Optimal Significance
Levels for Application of the Least Significant Difference in Crop Performance
Trials." Crop Science 16:95-99, 1976.
1996 Test Fields
Woodstock
- Location: Northeastern Illinois (cool, humid).
- Soil type: Proctor silt loam (fertile, deep, well-drained, dark prairie).
- Planting date: May 3.
- Harvest date: October 31, November 1.
- Cooperators: Hughes Farms and Seed Company; David Hughes and Donald Hughes.
DeKalb
- Location: University of Illinois, Northern Illinois Research Center, southwest
of DeKalb.
- Soil type: Flanagan silt loam (dark brown, adequately drained, highly fertile).
- Planting date: April 27.
- Harvest date: October 28, 30-31.
- Cooperators: Lyle Paul, research director; David Lindgren, farm foreman.
Dwight
- Location: Livingston County.
- Soil type: Elliott silty clay loam.
- Planting date: April 19.
- Harvest date: October 3 - 4.
- Cooperators: Larry and Louis Zabel.
Monmouth
- Location: University of Illinois, Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research
and Demonstration Center.
- Soil type: Muscatine silt loam.
- Planting date: April 26.
- Harvest date: October 10-11, 15.
- Cooperator: Eric Adee, research director; Roland Caulkins, farm foreman.
Urbana
- Location: University of Illinois Agronomy South Farm, Champaign County,
east central Illinois.
- Soil type: Flanagan silt loam.
- Planting date: April 18.
- Harvest date: October 7 & 9.
- Cooperators: Robert Dunker, superintendent; Mike Plotner, farm foreman.
Perry
- Location: Orr Research Center, Pike County, south central Illinois.
- Soil type: Rozetta silt loam.
- Planting date: April 17.
- Harvest date: October 15.
- Cooperators: Glenn Raines, research director; Mike Vose, farm foreman.
Brownstown
Carbondale
Dixon Springs
1996 Growing Season Rainfall
Location |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Woodstock |
8.48 |
5.72 |
5.04 |
2.07 |
1.57 |
DeKalb |
6.70 |
5.39 |
8.54 |
3.48 |
1.93 |
Dwight |
6.75 |
5.07 |
9.00 |
1.06 |
2.79 |
Monmouth |
9.32 |
2.41 |
3.41 |
2.31 |
1.85 |
Urbana |
8.26 |
5.65 |
3.36 |
1.42 |
3.40 |
Perry |
8.07 |
4.03 |
1.86 |
3.26 |
3.22 |
Brownstown |
5.25 |
3.24 |
2.25 |
0.89 |
2.96 |
Carbondale |
9.14 |
3.94 |
3.20 |
0.38 |
5.20 |
Dixon Springs |
5.58 |
3.54 |
5.17 |
0.55 |
5.86 |
Sources of Seed
- Adler Hybrids, Adler Seeds, Inc., 6085W- 550N, Sharpsville, IN 46068
- Ag Plus Hybrids, Ag Plus Seed Company, Rt 1, Box 73, Carlock, IL 61725
- Agra-Tech Hybrids, Agratech Seeds, Inc., 5559 N. 500W, McCordsville, IN
46055-9998
- Akin Hybrids, Akin Seed Company Inc., RR 1, Box 203, St. Francisville,
IL 62460
- Agri Pro Hybrids, Agri Pro, R.R 2, Hwy 30 East, Ames, IA 50010
- Asgrow Sorghum Hybrids, Asgrow Seed Company, P.O. Box 1945, Plainview,
TX 79072
- Beck's Hybrids, Beck's Superior Hybrids, 6767 E. 276 St., Atlanta, IN 46031
- Bo-Jac Hybrids, Bo-Jac Seed Company, 245 1500th Ave., Mt. Pulaski, IL 62548
- Burrus Hybrids, Burrus Bros. & As. Growers, 826 Arenzville Rd., Arenzville,
IL 62611
- Callahan Hybrids, Callahan Seeds, 1122E 169 St. Box 367, Westfield, IN
46074-0367
- Cargill Hybrids, Cargill, Inc., P.O. Box 5645, Minneapolis, MN 55440
- Cornelius Hybrids, Cornelius Seed Corn Co., 31578 150th St., Bellevue,
IA 52031
- Crow's Hybrids, Crow's Hybrid Corn Co., Box 306, Milford, IL 60953
- Dairyland Hybrids, Dairyland Seed Co., Inc., P.O. Box 958, West Bend, WI
53095
- DeKalb Hybrids, DeKalb Genetics Corp., 3100 Sycamore Road, DeKalb, IL 60115
- Dekalb Sorghum Hybrids, Dekalb Genetics Corp., Rt. 2, Box 56, Lubbock,
TX 79415
- Exseed Hybrids, Exseed Services, 43 Oak St., P.O. Box 272, Bristol, IL
60512-0272
- Federal Hybrids, Federal Hybrids, 5420-35th Ave., Marion, IA 52302
- Freedom Hybrids, Freedom Seed Co., US Rte. 24 East, Astoria, IL 61501
- Frey Hybrids, Frey Hybrid Corn Co., Inc., P.O. Box 116, Gilman, IL 60938
- Gen-Tech Hybrids, Gen-Tech Farm Seed Inc., 15740 Old 31, Agros, IN 46501
- Golden Harvest Hybrids, Golden Seed Co., LLC., 27420 137th Ave. N., Cordova,
IL 61242
- Golden Harvest Hybrids, Sommer Bros. Seed Co., P.O. Box 248, Pekin, IL
61555
- Good Buddy Hybrids, Good Buddy Seeds, P.O. Box 306, Mt. Orab, OH 45154
- Great Heart Hybrids, Great Heart, 220 W. Washington, Paris, IL 61944
- Griffith Pure Line Hybrids, Griffith Pure line Seed Co., Box 38, McNabb,
IL 61335
- Growmark Hybrids, Growmark, Inc., 1701 Towanda Ave., Bloomington, IL 61702
- Gutwein Hybrids, Gutwein Seeds R.R. 1, Box 40, Francesville, IN 47946
- Henkel Hybrids, Henkel Seeds, Inc., 107 Cedar Grove Rd., Mendota, IL 61342
- Hoblit Hybrids, Hoblit Seed Co., Box 487, Atlanta, IL 61723
- Hubner Hybrids, Hubner Seed Co., Inc., 10280 W. St. Rd. 28, West Lebanon,
IN 47991
- Hughes Hybrids, Hughes Hybrids, Inc., 603 N. McKinstry Road, Woodstock,
IL 60098
- ICI-Garst Hybrids, ICI-Garst Seeds, 21369-330th St., Slater, IA 50244
- Jung Hybrids, Jung Seed Genetics, 335 S. High Street, Randolph, WI 53957
- Kaltenberg Hybrids, Kaltenberg Seed Farms, Inc., 5506 Highway 19, Box 278,
Waunakee, WI 53597
- Kruger Hybrids, Kruger Seed Co., Box A, Dike, IA 50624
- KSC/Challenger Hybrids, KSC/Challenger, 6131 N Fork Rd., Ames, IA 50010
- Lewis Hybrids, Lewis Hybrids, Inc.,P.O. Box 38, Ursa, IL 62376
- LG Hybrids, LG Seeds, Inc., N Wyckles Rd., P.O. Box 950, Decator, IL 62525
- Merschman Hybrids, Merschman Seeds, 103 Ave. D, West Point, IA 52656
- Midwest Hybrids, Midwest Seed Genetics, P.O. Box 518, Carroll, IA 51401
- Mycogen Hybrids, Mycogen Plant Sciences, 720 St. Croix St., Prescott, WI
54021
- North-Gro Hybrids, North-Gro Seeds, Inc., 613 N. Randolph St., Cuba City,
WI 53807
- Patriot Hybrids, Patroit Seed Co., 208 S. Worrell, Box 97 Bowen, IL 62316
- Payco Hybrids, L.L. Olds Seed Co., P.O. Box 7790, Madison, WI 53707
- Pfister Hybrids, Pfister Hybrid Corn Co., P.O. Box 187, El Paso, IL 61738
- Pioneer Hybrids, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 2750 N. Main, Princeton,
IL 61356
- Pioneer Hybrids, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., P.O. Box 1536, O'Fallon,
IL 62269
- Pocklington Hybrids, Pocklington Seed Co., R.R. 2, Box 78, Girard, IL 62640
- Prairie Stream Hybrids, Prairie StreamFarms, Inc., 2175 East Kelley Rd.,
Frankfort IN 46041
- Premium Hybrids, Premium Seed, Inc., P.O. Box 218, Berwick, IL 61417
- Quality Plus Hybrids, Quality Plus Seed Co., 711 North I, Monmouth IL 61462
- Querna Hybrids, Querna Seed Co., Inc., 21783 US Hwy. 34, Danville, IA 52623
- Renk Hybrids, Renk Seed Co., Inc., 6800 Wilburn Rd., Sun Prairie, WI 53590
- Roeschley Hybrids, Roeschley Hybrids, 8222 E. 1500 N Rd., Graymont, IL
61743
- Schultz Sorghum Hybrids, Schultz Seed Company, P.O. Box 211, Dieterich,
IL 62424
- Sieben Hybrids, Sieben Hybrids, Inc., 633 N. College Ave., Geneseo, IL
61254
- Southern States Hybrids, Southern States Coop., P.O. Box 26234, Richmond,
VA 23260
- Specialty Grains Hybrids, Specialty Grains, Inc., 231 N.Sangamon Ave.,
Gibson City, IL 60936
- Stone Hybrids, Stone Seed Farms, Inc., Rt. 2, Pleasant Plains, IL 62677
- Sturdy Grow Hybrids, Sturdy Grow Hybrids, Inc., P.O. Box 194, Arcola, IL
61910
- Sunstar Hybrids, Sunstar Hybrids, 14993 State Road 17, Culver, IN 46511
- Terra Hybrids, Terra International, Inc., 600 4th St.P.O. Box 6000, Sioux
City, IA 51102
- Trelay Hybrids, Trelay Seed Co., 11623 Hwy 80 N., Livingston, WI 53554
- Trisler Hybrids, Trisler Seed Farms, Inc., 3274E 800N, Fairmount, IL 61841
- Triumph Hybrids, Triumph Seed Co., Inc., P.O. Box 1050, Ralls, TX 79357
- Twin States Hybrids, Twin States Seed Co., P.O. Box 428, Hoopeston, IL
60942
- USA Hybrids, United Seed Associates, 257 E. Hail, Bushnell, IL 61422
- Unity Hybrids, Unity Seeds, 803 N. 3rd St., Kentland, IN 47951
- Van Horn Hybrids, Van Horn Hybrids, Inc., P.O. Box 380, Cerro Gordo, IL
61818
- Whata Hybrids, Whata Hybrid, Inc., 8908 W. Sabin Church Rd., Pearl City,
IL 61062
- Whisnand Hybrids, Whisnand Hybrids,1220 E. State Rt. 133, Arcola, IL 61910
- Wilken Hybrids, Wilken Seed Grains, Inc., R.R. 4, P.O. Box 770, Pontiac,
IL 61764
- Wilson Hybrids, Wilson Hybrids, Inc., P.O. Box 391, Harlan, IA 51537
- Zimmerman Hybrids, Zimmerman Hybrids, Inc, 5147 W. Franklin, Evansville,
IN 47712