Episode 10 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbYtQZXc-lc
In Episode 10, we talk with Dr. Aaron Wilson about our upcoming weather forecast and get field updates from each of the plot locations: Wooster, Northwest, and Western Ohio.
Battle For the Belt Location Updates
The third planting date was planted at all three locations on May 11th (Figure 1). Each location had saturated soil, like most of the state at the beginning of the week; however, the heat and wind assisted in drying the soil down enough to be able to plant. Table 1 displays the planting conditions for each location. The soil temperature is well above the minimum need for both corn and soybeans and received rain a day later.
Figure 1. Soybean planting date 3 on May 11, 2023.
Table 1. Planting date three, soil and air temperatures at planting.
|
Location |
Planting date |
2-inch soil temperature |
Air Temperature (at planting) |
|
Wooster, Wayne County |
May 11th |
60°F |
59°F |
|
Western, Clark County |
May 11th |
63°F |
66°F |
|
Northwest, |
May 11th |
66°F |
67°F |
The first planting date for all three locations has corn moving from emergence (VE) to vegetative growth stage 1 (V1). In this stage the first leaf collar becomes visible. Nodal roots begin elongation. The first leaf is thumb shaped. According to Table 2. Western has the highest amount of growing degree days at 223 which is approximately one growth stage ahead of the other locations.
Planting date two had sparse emergence, with less than 5% spiking through (Figure 2). This planting date should be emerged at all three locations by the end of this week.
Figure 2. Soybean planting date 2 (April 26) at the Northwest Agricultural Research Station on May 11, 2023.
Soybeans do not have the same uniformity across locations as the corn crop does. The first planting date in Wooster has had emergence issues. After being in the ground for almost one month the emergence across the board stood at approximately 10%. This location had saturated soil for most of the month. This planting date at both Western and Northwest are between VE and VC (unrolled unifoliate leaves). These locations appear to be recovering from the cold temperatures from the week prior. The second planting at each location was close to emergence with the hypocotyl visible in some plots, these will likely be emerged this coming week.
Table 2. The planting date one and two in the trial at all three locations with day of planting, soil, air temperature averages, and Growing Degree Days (GDDs). Information from CFAES Weather System: https://weather.cfaes.osu.edu/.
|
Location |
2-inch soil temperature |
Air Temperature (May 1-May 8) |
Planting |
GDDs (Cumulative) |
|
Wooster, Wayne County |
Mean: 61°F Minimum: 55°F (May 10) |
Mean: 60°F Minimum: 35.7°F (May 10) |
April 14th April 27th |
166 103.5 |
|
Western, Clark County |
Mean: 64°F (May 10) |
Mean: 65°F Minimum: 45°F (May 10) |
April 13th April 27th |
223 150 |
|
Northwest, |
Mean: 61°F (May 10) |
Mean: 60°F (May 10) |
April 12th April 26th |
193 104 |
As a recap, this research project includes five planting date windows, 1) Ultra early = late March to early April; 2) Early = mid to late April; 3) Normal = early to mid-May (reported here); 4) Late = late May-first week of June; and 5) Very late = mid to late June. Weather permitting, the fourth planting date (Late) would occur toward the end of this month.
What crop should we plant first? Keep following the ‘Battle for the Belt’ this growing season to learn more and get further updates! You can find the full video playlist of Battle for the Belt on the Ohio State Agronomy YouTube channel.