What is Ideal Corn Population?

According to the chart at Dickey John's Seed Conversion, I am planting around 34,465. I'm approximately 9.1" between seeds on 20" rows. I fertilized the equivalent of 330 pounds of 12-12-12 and 83 pounds of Urea. I don't harvest any so row spacing isn't a problem. Ground is sandy loam. Yield should approach 123-125 bu/a, at least on paper. Most food plot books I read recommend 8-13 pounds per acre. My seed runs 1920/pound, so that would be about 19,200-25,000 population on 40" rows. Am I planting too heavy or doesn't it matter as long as the nutrients/water are there?

Larry

Let me try to explain this, Well the idea population in 20 inch corn is 34.000 to 36.000 for top yield per acre. I planted my 20 inch corn at 8.75 inches or 35.000 population so if you planted at 9.1 your in good shape. I would not worry about the pounds per acre idea as corn is sold by a seed count 80 or 84.000 per bag and not by weight like it use to be. Seed companies found its cheaper to sell and ship smaller seed in an 80 or 84.000 count bag @45 lbs a bag than a larger seed at 80 or 84.000 count bag @56 lbs per bag.

As for fertilizer I put down 200 lbs of urea and 350 lbs of 9-23-30 per acre + 20 gallon of liquid nitrogen (28%) over the top in 2 passes. So your not to far off but if your not going to harvest it, It really dose not matter.

The hole idea on 20 inch corn is simple, The roots go out about 10 inches in all directions so by spacing the seed at 9 inches apart and in 20 inch rows they can get all the available moisture and nutrients to grow a good crop of corn. I see a lot of corn that is 5 inches apart in 30 inch rows with a 34.000 population and it grows just fine, So I don't think your population is all that bad in fact its about right as they say. This is dad in our 20 inch corn year before last and it made 115 bu an acre in a real dry year while others around me were in the 6 to 60 bu range, So it dose work. Bandit

Seems like for a food plot that isn't harvested your population is plenty heavy, especially considering the cost of seed these days. That rate would be more in line with what commercial farmers are planting when they expect big yields. It also depends greatly on the conditions. A typical population rate here in Kansas for dryland corn would be in the low-20's compared to the mid- to upper-30's that would be common in the corn belt.

Right around 25,000 for 30" rows in my area. This is for corn intended to be harvested. Nutrients needs to be there one way or the other but I think rainfall has a bigger impact on yield than anything. A guy might want to be a little thin on a dry year, and a little thick on a wet year if he only knew. As for a food plot and not harvesting, bushels per acre not going to matter much but you are going to want to end up with some good ears. Therefore, I personally would plant a food plot a little on the thin side. Probly end up with bigger ears and better quality corn if you happen to hit a bone dry year.

Too heavy 24,000 for food plots around here.Twice as much fertilizer as needed.