Following are some brief points to consider when planning for corn production. These are excerpts from the 2024 Georgia Corn Production Guide. The production guide is an excellence resource for all growers, and has especially good information for new corn growers. Refer to the production guide for the full information.
Hybrid Selection – No single corn hybrid fits every field in Georgia. Every year there is a vast array of corn hybrids marketed by numerous companies in Georgia. Each hybrid varies from the others in relative maturity; lodging, disease, and insect resistance; grain quality; yield potential; and adaptability to differing geographical and production scenarios. Keep your production practices and field conditions in mind when selecting hybrids for the year. It’s good to plant at least 3 different hybrids in any one year to provide genetic diversity and reduce risk against total devastation to an unforeseen pest outbreak. Proper hybrid selection is probably the most important decision you will make in determining final yields. The best place to start when selecting corn hybrids is the previous year’s Corn Hybrid Performance Bulletins (https://swvt.uga.edu). This data provides a good reference yield potential for the different regions in the state when grown under good production practices. Local data from County agents is valuable. After this consult your seed dealer’s fact sheets and sales reps to determine which hybrids they recommend for your specific production system.
Planting Dates – To increase your chances of avoiding yield-limiting disease pressure, corn should be planted as early as possible. At planting soil temperatures at the 2-inch depth should be at or exceed 55o F. Germination progresses slowly at temperatures between 55 and 60o F and emergence will take between 7 to 12 days. Conversely, germination will progress rapidly when corn is planted in soil temperatures greater than 60o F and emergence will be prompt. If your 2-inch soil temperature is 55o F or above but your forecasted weather could drop soil temperatures below this threshold, then planting should be delayed until warmer temperatures return. Pushing planting dates as early as possible also increases the risk of frost or freeze damage to emerging corn. Typically, corn can withstand severe frost or freeze damage without yield loss so long as the growing point is below the soil surface. Optimum planting windows will vary based upon your location in Georgia. Corn planting can begin as early as mid-March in South Georgia but may not begin until mid-May in North Georgia. Early planted corn will traditionally yield more than late planted corn regardless of region within the state. Delaying corn planting into the summer can dramatically decrease yield potential.
Base Fertilization – Fertilizer recommendations depend on the soil fertility level as determined by soil tests and the yield goal. Fertilization programs not based on soil tests may result in excessive and/or sub-optimum rates of nutrients being applied. Take soil samples each fall to monitor the current fertility level. Use the yield goal to determine the quantity of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash to apply. At high yield levels, the balance of nutrients in relation to one another also is important.
Nitrogen
In sandy Coastal Plain soils, nitrogen is very mobile. If excessive rainfall occurs or excessive amounts of water are applied through the irrigation system, leaching losses of nitrogen can be quite drastic during the growing season. To increase the efficiency of nitrogen recovery during the season, split applications of nitrogen are recommended. Apply 25 to 30 percent of the projected nitrogen needs before or at planting. The remaining nitrogen can be applied sidedress and/or injected through the center pivot systems (fertigation). If all the nitrogen is applied with ground equipment, apply 50 to 75 pounds per acre at or before planting under irrigated conditions and 20 to 50 pounds per acre in dryland environments and the rest when the corn is 12 to 16 inches tall.
Phosphate and Potash
Apply all the phosphate and, on most soils, all the potash at or before planting. Some of the phosphate requirements may be obtained using starter fertilizer. On deep sands, you should probably apply potash in split applications, half at planting and half at layby.
Secondary and micronutrients
Corn requires a relatively large amount of sulfur, generally 20 to 30 pounds per acre. On deep sands, apply sulfur in split applications. All sulfur should be applied in the sulfate (SO4) form. Applications with nitrogen may prove efficient. Base magnesium fertilization on soil tests. If the level is low, apply 25 to 50 pounds per acre of water-soluble magnesium by layby. Zinc deficiency can be prevented by using three pounds per acre of actual zinc. Do not use zinc unless soil test levels are low. If needed, apply pre-plant or at planting.
For more information, contact your local County Agent.
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