Stalk Lodging in Bt, non-Bt Corn Hybrids Increases with High Plant Density

Stalk lodging can lead to significant losses in grain yield during corn production. The corn plant lodging ability is dictated by the strength of its corn stalk, particularly the rind portion. The strength of the rind can be measured using a device called rind penetrometer.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin compared the rind strength of different corn hybrids in fields with increasing plant density. The researchers wanted to determine if the corn hybrids with the Bt gene will lodge less than those without the Bt, in addition to testing whether rind strength measurements can be used for predicting stalk lodging potential.

The researchers observed that the Bt hybrids lodged less in only one of the ten field locations in Wisconsin. The rind strength of the hybrids, whether Bt or non-Bt, also decreased as the plant population increased from 64,220 to 123,500 plants per hectare. The recommended plant density for corn production is 74,100 plants per hectare.

The research article was published by the Agronomy Journal and can be accessed by subscribers at http://agron.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/99/3/657.