Battle for the Belt: Season 4, Episode 4 – Corn and Soybean Stand Counts

Season 4, Episode 4 of Battle for the Belt is now available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ57J-iDkjA

Figure 1. Freeze damage on planting date one at the Wooster research station, corn and soybean. Photo Credit: Diego Miranda.

Stand counts are essential for estimating plant population. We need to remember that, especially in early planting conditions, seedlings can be affected by abiotic factors such as freezing temperatures or by biotic factors like pathogens (Figure 1). Going through the field and conducting stand counts can help us decide whether we have an adequate stand or if replanting is warranted. Often, a lower plant population established earlier in the year can yield similar or better to a higher plant population established later in the year (learn more here!). Currently, there are no official replanting guidelines in the state of Ohio, and that is one of the goals of the study Battle for the Belt 2.0: to develop replanting guidelines that can help farmers make informed decisions about whether, when, and where to replant.

Figure 2. Stand Counts evaluation at Wooster Research Station. Photo Credit: Diego Miranda.

The best way to conduct stand counts is by evaluating an area equivalent to 1/1000 of an acre (Figure 2). For soybeans planted in 15-inch row spacing, you can place a measuring tape at 17 feet and 5 inches and count the plants from both rows. The number of plants counted represents the stand in 1/1000 of an acre and can be multiplied by 1,000 to estimate the plant population per acre. If soybeans are planted in 30-inch row spacing, only one row needs to be counted over the same distance. For corn, which is commonly planted in 30-inch row spacing, you can also measure 17 feet and 5 inches, count the plants in one row, and multiply that number by 1,000 to estimate the plant population per acre. Additionally, if the field is large and representative variability is expected, it is recommended to take at least 4 to 5 stand count readings across different areas of the field. This can provide a more accurate estimate of the overall plant population on a particular field.  

Figure 3. Second planting date, Wooster, May 4th. Photo Credit: Lynn Ault.

Field Update

After a few days of somewhat adverse weather conditions, we were able to complete the second planting date of our corn and soybeans at the Western and Wooster locations (Figure 3). Due to climatic conditions, Northwest’s second planting is yet to be completed. Table 1 shows weather conditions during planting date two at Wooster and Western. Table 2 shows the weather information and crop status for the first planting date across our three research locations.

Stay connected with Battle for the Belt 2.0 throughout this growing season for more updates and insights. You can watch the Battle for the Belt video series on the Ohio State Agronomy YouTube channel.

Table 1. Temperature conditions for the Second Planting Date at the Western Agricultural Research Station and at the Wooster campus. Weather data retrieved from: https://weather.cfaes.osu.edu/

Table 2. Precipitation, soil temperature, average air temperature, cumulative growing degree days (GDDs), and stage at the Western Agricultural Research Station, the Northwest Agricultural Research Station, and Wooster Campus. Weather data retrieved from: https://weather.cfaes.osu.edu/