Sudeep Sidhu, UF/IFAS Agronomy Specialist, and Gabrielle Alves Comitre, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center

In 2024, an irrigated corn variety evaluation was conducted at two locations: North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC)-Suwanee Valley, in Live Oak, FL and NFREC-Quincy, FL. In Live Oak, corn was planted on April 11th, and it was planted in Quincy on April 10th and April 11th. At both locations, varieties from nine seed companies were evaluated. In Live Oak, 18 varieties were planted on 4 rows in an 30-inch row spacing in long plots under a pivot and replicated 4 times. However, 30 corn varieties were evaluated in Quincy with 4 rows of each corn variety were planted on 36-inch rows in 20 foot long small plots replicated 4 times. The list of varieties evaluated at each location is listed in table 1 below. Corn at both locations was planted at 30,000 seeds per acre and replications were randomized. Corn was harvested on August 20th and August 14th in Live Oak and Quincy, respectively.

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Management

Due to difference in soil type and climate, corn management was site specific. Total fertilizer usage for corn in Live Oak was 233 lbs/ acre nitrogen (N), 193 lbs/acre potassium (k), 50 lbs/acre phosphorus (P), and 60 lbs per acre of sulphur (S). Nitrogen was applied in five split applications, and potassium in two applications. Sulfur (S) was applied as 28-0-0-5 with nitrogen splits. Another product that was applied at planting was AgXplore ContaiN Advanced, which is a nitrogen management product.

In Quincy, land preparation in Mid-March included application of 5-10-15 @200lbs/acre which accounted for 10, 20, and 30 lbs/acre for N, P, and K respectively. This fertilizer was in addition to the fertilizer application applied during the season. Fertilizer usage for corn was targeted to be 245 lbs/acre applied in four applications. In May, additional 40 lbs N/acre application was applied after several heavy rainfall events. Potassium was applied at 265 lbs per acre in 3 splits. Phosphorus was applied at 40 lbs per acre. No additional S was applied other than what was in 34-0-0 and 5-10-15 formulations.

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Data Collection

Throughout the season, data was collected on several agronomic parameters and results from some of these parameters which align closely with corn yield are shown in the graphs below. For each parameter, a red vertical line separates the varieties that performed above average for that parameter. Two pioneer varieties, P2042 VYHR and P1608 YHR, were planted twice at Quincy location to utilize extra space in the trial and therefore these varieties appear twice in Quincy results.

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NFREC – Quincy Corn Variety Test Results

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NFREC – Suwannee Valley Corn Variety Test Results

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