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Battle for the Belt: Episode 12

Episode 12 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://youtu.be/BnSt0BxWKTE

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Figure 1. Soybean planting date four at the Northwest Research Station on May 25, 2023.

In Episode 12, we are in the field with Dr. Laura Lindsey, Soybean Extension Specialist and Dr. Osler Ortez, Corn Extension Specialist discussing stand counts and replant decisions. If considering to replant, check out this resource. Also, Luke Waltz from Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) shares about remote sensing drone data being collected, which would complement ground-truth physical measurements in the project.

Battle For the Belt Location Updates

Planting date four was planted at the Northwest Research Station and Western Research Station on May 25. The Wooster location will be planted today (May 30). At all three locations, the soil is crusted and dry. According to Table 1, the soil temperatures have been consistently optimal for planting, though a cold evening did drop the soil temperature in most of the state the night after planting. Western and Northwest have received less than one inch of rain for the last few weeks.  According to USDA reporting systems (May 21), throughout the state over 60% of the acreage of both corn and soybeans have been planted.

Table 1. The planting date environment for planting date four at the Western Research Station and Northwestern Research Station.

Location

Planting date

2-inch soil temperature
 (at planting)

Air Temperature

(at planting)

Western,

Clark County

May 25th 

71°F

56°F

Northwest,
Wood County

May 25th 

68°F

53°F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Figure 2. Soybeans planted on May 11 (third planting date) at VE/VC stage.

Although there was a two-week difference between planting date one one (April 12-14) and planting date two (April 26-27), plants are at a similar growth stage. The corn at Western is between V3 and V4. The growing point of the crop will be above ground in about one more week. The soybeans are reaching V1 which is the first trifoliate unfolded. Northwest and Wooster are about one growth stage behind Western. Planting date three (May 11) has fully emerged and is on the brink of V2 in corn and VC in soybeans at both Western and Northwest. At the Wooster location, planting date three, corn is at V1 and soybeans are at VE. The heat units being accumulated are moving crop development and growth quickly. Between growth stage V3 and V5 in corn, the plant moves from relying on the seed to the nodal root system for nutrient uptake. This can cause some yellowing as the plant transitions; however, this discoloration resolves quickly as the roots continue to develop. Overall, planting date one and two at Western and Northwest have an adequate stand (averaging 86,000 plants/acre for soybean and 32,000 plants/acre for corn). Plant stands at Wooster are adequate for corn, but low for soybeans (as low as 27,000 plants/acre).

Table 2. The planting date one, two, and three 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
(May 22-May 28)

Air Temperature

(May 21-25)

Planting date

GDDs

(Cumulative)

Wooster,

Wayne County

Mean: 64°F

Minimum: 59°F

(May 25)

Mean: 60°F

Minimum: 42°F

(May 25)

April 14

April 27

May 11

260

197

144

Western,

Clark County

Mean: 66°F

Minimum: 59°F

(May 26)

Mean: 64°F

Minimum: 46°F

(May 25)

April 13

April 27

May 11

412

327

243

Northwest,
Wood County

Mean: 63°F

Minimum: 51°F

(May 25)

Mean: 62°F

Minimum: 40°F

(May 26)

April 12

April 26

May 11

335

273

206

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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; 4) Late = late May-first week of June; and 5) Very late = mid to late June. Planting date four for Wooster is planned for this week. Weather permitting, the fifth planting date (very late) is planned for mid to late June.

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

Crop Observation and Recommendation Network

C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.