Corn Stalk Evaluations

We typically think of stalk evaluations as a pre-harvest activity, and there is no doubt this represents the best time to conduct this exercise. However, we can gain insight as the combines roll or even after harvesting a field. The remaining stalk tissue can still tell the story of the growing season. If yields exceeded your expectations, that is great news and represents an opportunity to rejoice and take notes of what management decisions played into that success. If results weren’t as expected, inspecting your stalks in three key areas can provide insight on how to change your game plan going into next year's growing season.

Stalk Spacing

Uniform spacing is key to getting consistent yield and maximum stalk diameter. When plants are doubled up, competition for key resources can reduce ear sizes by up to 50%. If you’re noticing quite a few multiples and skips, it is likely a sure sign that your meters need to be evaluated and tuned up going into next season. Make a note to schedule net effective stand counts with your Burrus Representative next spring to set your fall harvest expectations early.

Stalk Diameter

The link between individual stalk diameter and ear size is correlated. The stalk serves as the conduit of nutrients and photosynthates to the ear. If you observe variability in stalk diameter despite consistent spacing, the plant may have emerged late, or early-season stress might have restricted its growth. In fact, if a plant is delayed by two leaves or more compared to surrounding plants, it is not much different from a weed and contributes minimally, if at all, to yield. Routinely, we see that varying seed depth placement in the furrow along with the differing soil conditions at the time of planting are the major cause of variable stalk diameter. Understanding these factors and addressing them is key to preventing them in the years to come.

Stalk Integrity & Color

The appearance of stalks can tell you a lot about whether the plant has experienced stressful conditions during its growth. If you notice that the pith or center of the stalk appears shredded, it is a sign that the plant cannibalized the tissue to finish filling out the ear. Discoloration of the pith or the outer stalk indicates stalk rot. The focus is most often placed on the result (disease) rather than the cause (stress). It is important to identify the stress that was present. Now that we have laid out what to look for, ask yourself what stressors did you notice this year?

• Was my fertility plan adequate for the season’s growing conditions? If you noticed significant in-season yellowing, it is likely a sign that fertility was lacking and it is time to look at making some tweaks.
• Was the planting population appropriate for my field's yield level, and was my hybrid placement appropriate? Consistency in ear size maximizes overall yield. Matching hybrids to the right acre and at the right population sets the table for success.
• What was the disease pressure? If there was a lot, you might have experienced die-down rather than dry-down, resulting in lost test weight. Looking at hybrid disease ratings and using fungicide can minimize late-season stress and put bushels in the bin for next fall.

There’s always more to yield results than just hybrid selection. Let our team at Burrus make next year's crop even better by creating a full-season crop plan that starts with the right seed product on the right acre. With the Burrus team, our recommendations consider every aspect of the growing season and your operation. We’re eager to work with you to learn about this year’s crop successes and challenges to make the best recommendations for your operation. We look forward to visiting with you this fall.