TEST
PROGRAM
Selection of entries.�
Each year, producers of� corn hybrids in
Number and location of tests.�
In 2007, hybrid corn entrants were required to enter hybrid(s) in at
least one of 4 regions each consisting of 3 locations with a total of 12
locations in the state (see map).� These
sites represent the major soil and climatic areas of the state.
Hybrids.�
There were 311 corn hybrids from 46 companies tested in 2007.
Field-plot design.�
Three replications of an alpha lattice design or randomized complete
block were used to give each corn hybrid an equal chance to show its merits.
Planting methods.�
All trials were planted by a modern four row planter modified for small
plot work.� A soil insecticide (Force)
was applied in furrow at planting for all corn trials.� Corn plots were planted to stand and later
counted to confirm population.� Each plot
was four rows wide and�
23 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 side
dressed as needed to ensure top yields.
Method of harvest.�
All corn plots were harvested with a custom-built, self-propelled, corn
plot combine.� Grain collected from each
plot was weighed, and tested for moisture content.� An electronic moisture monitor was used in
the combine for all moisture readings.�
No allowance was made for grain that might have been lost in harvest.
PERFORMANCE DATA
Grain yield.�
Grain weight and moisture was converted to bushels per acre of No. 2
shelled corn (15.5 percent moisture).
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.�
Corn plots were planted to population and later counted to confirm
population.� Stand differences may be
caused by failure to germinate or by damage from diseases, insects, cultivation,
or rodents.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COMPARING
HYBRIDS
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 out yields 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 Swanson1
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.� An L.S.D. level of 25% is shown.� Find the highest yielding hybrid within the
regional table or single location table of interest, subtract the 25% L.S.D.
value 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 α =
0.20 to 0.40, where α is the Type I statistical error rate for comparisons
between means that are really equal.�
Herein, a value of α = 0.25 is used in computing the L.S.D. 25-
percent level 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
2Carmer, S.G.
"Optimal Significance Levels for Application of the Least Significant
Difference in Crop Performance Trials."� Crop Science 16:95-99, 1976.
2007 TEST FIELDS
Location: Nelson farm,
Ogle county, north of
Cooperator: Rick
Nelson.
Soil type:
Planting date: May 2nd .
Harvest date: October 4th .
Nitrogen: 179lbs. as
28%, PRE.
Herbicides: PRE-
Harness Xtra, Hornet .
Tillage: Spring- field
cultivation.
|
DeKalb
Location:
Cooperators: Lyle Paul;
research director,
David
Lindgren; farm foreman.
Soil type: Flanagan silty clay loam.
Planting date: May 3rd .
Harvest date: October 3rd .
Nitrogen (conv.): 190 lbs. as fall anhydrous.
Nitrogen (corn on
corn): 220 lbs. as 28% PPI.
Herbicides: PRE- Axiom, Atrazine.
Tillage: Fall-
moldboard plow; Spring- mulchfinish.
|
Location: Slaymaker farm, Whiteside county,
west of
Soil Type: Beaucoup silty clay loam.
Cooperator: Robert Slaymaker.
Planting Date: April 30th .
Harvest Date: September 27th .
Nitrogen: 207 lbs. as
28% PPI.
Herbicides: PPI-
Harness Extra, Post- Laddok.
Tillage: Fall- chisel; Spring- field cultivate.
|
Monmouth
Location:
Illinois Agricultural
Research and
Martin
Johnson; farm foreman.
Soil type: Sable silty clay loam.
Planting date: April 21st .
Harvest date: September 19th .
Nitrogen
(conventional): 180 lbs. as 28% PPI.
Nitrogen (corn on
corn):220 lbs. as 28% PPI.
Herbicides: PPI-
Harness Extra; Post- Callisto, Steadfast.
Tillage: Fall- chisel
plow; Spring- field cultivate.
|
Location: Bennett Farm,
Sangamon county, north of
Cooperators: Leahy
Bennett.
Soil type: Sable silt
loam.
Planting date: April 21st .
Harvest date: September 7th .
Nitrogen: 200 lbs as 28% PPI.
Herbicides: PPI- Lumax; Post- Basagran.
Tillage: Fall- rip; Spring- field cultivate.
|
Perry
Location:
Cooperator: Mike Vose; farm foreman.
Soil type: Herrick silt
loam.
Planting date: April 22nd .
Harvest date: September 11th .
Nitrogen: 205 lbs. as
fall anhydrous. Herbicides: PRE- Harness Xtra; Post-Laddok.
Tillage: Spring- field
cultivate.
|
Dwight
Location: Hoffman farm,
Grundy county, north of Dwight, northeastern
Cooperator: Allen
Hoffman.
Soil type: Reddick silty clay loam.
Planting date: April 23rd .
Harvest date: September 18th .
Nitrogen: 215 lbs. as
28% PPI.
Herbicides: PPI- Bicep;
Post-Callisto.
Tillage: Spring-soil
finisher.
|
Goodfield
Location: Wurmnest farm, Woodford county,
north of Goodfield, central
Cooperator: Mike Wurmnest.
Soil Type: Ipava silt loam.
Planting date: April 24th .
Harvest date: September 20th .
Nitrogen: 180 lbs. as
28% PPI.
Herbicides:
PPI-Outlook.
Other: Headline +
Waylay (aerial applied on July 10th)
Tillage: Fall -chisel
plow, Spring-
soil finisher.
|
Location:
Cooperators: Robert
Dunker; superintendent, Mike Kleiss; farm foreman.
Soil type: Flanagan silt
loam.
Planting date: April 23rd .
Harvest date: September
12th.
Nitrogen: conventional
- 150 lbs. as 28% PPI: corn following corn - 180 lbs. as 28% PPI
Herbicides: PPI- Degree, Aatrex (conventional), Lumax (corn following corn)
Post- Callisto.
Tillage: Fall- chisel plow, Spring- soil finisher. |
St. Peter
Location: Magnus Farm,
Fayette county, west of St. Peter, south-central
Cooperators: Torrey
Magnus.
Soil type: Bluford silt loam.
Planting date: April 20th .
Harvest date: September 10th .
Nitrogen: 190 lbs.
spring applied anhydrous.
Herbicides: PRE- Lexar, Atrazine;
Post- Buctril.
Tillage: Spring- disk +
mix-n-till.
|
Location: Southern
Cooperators: Dr. Ed Varsa; research director, Ron Krausz;
field manager.
Soil type: Ebbert silt loam.
Planting date: April 19th .
Harvest date: September 10th .
Herbicides: PPI- Lumax, Atrazine.
Nitrogen: 150 lbs. as
28% PPI.
Tillage: Fall- Chisel
plow, Spring-disk, field cultivate, and cultimulcher.
|
Elkville
Location: Funk farm,
Cooperators: John and
Trent Funk.
Soil Type: Okaw silt loam.
Planting
date: April 20th.
Harvest date: August 30th .
Nitrogen: 170 lbs as
spring applied anhydrous .
Herbicides: PRE- Lexar, Aatrex.
Tillage: Fall- Chisel, Spring-
field cultivator, mulch finisher.
|
GROWING SEASON RAINFALL
Location |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mt. Morris |
0.95 |
4.45 |
9.00 |
9.30 |
1.80 |
25.3 |
DeKalb |
2.01 |
3.91 |
8.29 |
14.1 |
0.58 |
28.9 |
Erie |
1.20 |
6.90 |
6.25 |
6.30 |
0.85 |
21.5 |
Monmouth |
2.94 |
4.25 |
4.61 |
6.40 |
0.88 |
19.1 |
New Berlin |
1.90 |
4.20 |
1.70 |
1.70 |
2.10 |
11.6 |
Perry |
2.54 |
2.65 |
1.12 |
1.54 |
0.79 |
8.64 |
Dwight |
1.78 |
2.27 |
6.53 |
12.1 |
0.80 |
23.5 |
Goodfield |
2.90 |
0.90 |
3.80 |
5.70 |
1.30 |
14.6 |
Urbana |
1.58 |
5.77 |
5.72 |
1.48 |
2.00 |
16.5 |
St. Peter |
1.36 |
4.24 |
3.86 |
0.08 |
3.35 |
12.9 |
Belleville |
5.30 |
3.23 |
2.64 |
1.09 |
2.11 |
14.4 |
Elkville |
1.40 |
2.30 |
7.00 |
0.50 |
0.60 |
11.8 |
SOURCES OF SEED
AgriGold, AgriGold Hybrids, RR
Asgrow, Monsanto,
Beck, Beck's
Superior Hybrids,
Bo-jac, Bo-Jac
Seed Co, 245 1500th Av,
Burrus, Burrus Hybrids,
Cornelius, Cornelius� Seed Corn
Co., 14760 317th Av.,
Crows, Crow�s
Hybrid Corn Co.,
Dairyland, Dairyland
Seed Co., Inc., P.O. Box 958, West Bend, WI 53095 (262-626-3080)
DeKalb, Monsanto,
Farm Advantage,
Farm Advantage, 1275 Hwy 69,
Garst, Garst Seed
Co.,
Grow Direct, Grow
Direct, Inc.,
Hoblit, Hoblit
Seed, 2189 1900th Av.�� P.O.�
Horizon, Horizon Genetics, P.O.�
Hubner, Hubner
Seed Company, 10280 West State Rte 28,
Hughes,
Hughes Hybrids, Inc.,
ICORN, ICORN,
792 N.�
Jung, Jung Seed Genetics, Inc.,
Kaltenberg, Kaltenberg
Seed Farms, 5506 State Rte 19, P.O. Box 278, Waunakee, WI 53597-0278
(608-849-5021)�
Kruger,
Kruger Seed Co., 33938 160th. Ave.,�
Lewis, Lewis
Hybrids, Inc.,
LG, LG Seeds,
M&D,
M&D Seed,
Merschman, Merschman Seeds,
Inc., 103 Av. D, PO Box 67, West Point, IA 52656 (319-837-6111)
Midland,
Brown Seed Enterprises, Inc.,�
289� 550 N.�
Midwest,
Munson,
Munson Hybrids, Inc.,
NuTech, NuTech
Seed, LLC,
Pfister, Pfister
Hybrid Corn Co.,
Pioneer,
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.,
Prairie Hybrids, Prairie Hybrids,
Premium,
Premium Seed, Inc.,
Prime, Prime
Farm Seeds, Inc.,
Quality Plus, Quality Plus Seed,
Renk, Renk Seed
Co.,
Roeschley, Roeschley
Hybrids, 8222 E. 1500 N. Rd.,
Select,
Select Seed Hybrids,
Shepherd, Shepherd Seeds,
Steyer, Steyer Seeds,
Stone, Stone
Seed Co., 5965 W. Sate Rte 97, Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 (217-546-8006)
Trisler, Trisler Seeds,Inc., 3274 E 800 N Rd.,
Whata, Whata
Hybrid, Inc., 8908 W.
Whisnand,
Whisnand Hybrids, 1220 E. State Rt. 133,
Wilken,
Wilken Seed Grains, Inc., R.R. 4,
Walbash Valley, Wyckoff Hybrids, Inc., 594 E 400N,
Wyckoff,
Wyckoff Hybrids, Inc., 594 E 400N,
Wyffels, Wyffels
Hybrids, Inc, 13344 Hwy 6,
YIELDirect, YIELDirect,