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Study to demonstrate crop emergence impact on yield

An Ohio seed company is working to determine if either crop placement or emergence has the higher potential for increased yields.

Ohio State University conducted a study which showed uniform crop emergence impacted yield 5 to 17 percent. Matt Hutcheson, an agronomist with Seed Consultants, says they’re running their own tests to determine which has the greater impact on yield.

“We’ll take everything to yield. We’ll weigh ears and count kernels, make yield estimates and compare the late emergers to the early emergers.” says Hitcheson.

Hutcheson says if the study shows emergence has a greater yield potential than crop placement that might determine how hybrid seeds are developed moving forward.

“If you have a plant that comes out of the ground two days later it’s not going to put much of an ear on. If it does it may be more like a weed. Instead of producing anything it’s just going to rob from its neighbor.” says Hitcheson.

Seed Consultants will be conducting the study over several years. The yield results from this year will be announced in January.

Audio: Matt Hutcheson with Seed Consultants