Kess Berg
Monsanto Companies
Focused effort around understanding hybrid
response to population given a known
environment
• Hybrid placement using this method is limited due to the assumption (we have to) that each soil type (blount, fincastle, pewamo, chalmers, etc.) performs equally
• Hybrid companies to this point have not been able to directly assess specific field level production per location and/or producer
• The goal is to accurately predict hybrid performance by field parcel growing conditions
GEN (Genetic X Environment Narrative)
• In 2010 there were 60 locations throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
• To aid in evaluation and utility of the data, the geography represented was broken into eco-regions; areas that represent similar agronomic characteristics and practices.
• In 2010 the eco-regions were Iowa (IA), Minnesota/South Dakota (MNSD), Northern Illinois (NIL), Northern Indiana (NIN), and Southern Illinois/Southern Indiana (SILIN).
• At each location, hybrids were planted at 5 populations, and replicated 3 times.
• A total of 177 hybrids were evaluated.
2010 GEN Research Data
• The planting populations used in the NIN and SILIN eco-regions were 23,000, 28,000, 33,000, 38,000, and 43,000 seeds/acre.
• The planting populations used in the IA, MNSD, and NIL eco-regions were 28,000, 33,000, 38,000, 43,000, and 48,000 seeds/acre.
• The yield data (bu./acre) for DEKALB® corn is presented by location.
• We will likely be compiling a nationwide summary of the data over the next few months.
• Additionally, the data from this project powers the Pro fitSM software that your local agronomist can use to help make planting population recommendations.
2010 GEN Research Data
* The version of this germplasm tested in the GEN trials was either conventional or had only the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait. ** Location average and eco-Region average represents the data from 57 germplasms, including the 9 DEKALB® corn brands listed.
Monsanto Company is a member of
Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS).
Monsanto products are commercialized in
accordance with ETS Product Launch
Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with
Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of
Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in
Commodity Crops. This product has been
approved for import into key export markets
with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop
or material produced from this product can only
be exported to, or used, processed or sold in
countries where all necessary regulatory
approvals have been granted. It is a violation of
national and international law to move material
containing biotech traits across boundaries into
nations where import is not permitted. Growers
should talk to their grain handler or product
purchaser to confirm their buying position for
this product. Excellence Through Stewardship®
is a registered trademark of Biotechnology
Industry Organization. Individual results may
vary, and performance may vary from location
to location and from year to year. This result
may not be an indicator of results you may
obtain as local growing, soil and weather
conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate
data from multiple locations and years
whenever possible.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE
LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready®
crops contain genes that confer tolerance to
glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup®
brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand
agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not
tolerant to glyphosate. DEKALB®, Roundup
Ready®, Roundup®, Technology Development
by Monsanto and Design®, and DEKALB and
Design® are registered trademarks of
Monsanto Technology LLC. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective
owners. ©2011 Monsanto Company.
02.07.2011.EJP
2010
GEN Research Data
Southern MN&SD Eco-region
Brands
180
190
200
210
220
230
28000 33000 38000 43000 48000
Co
rn Y
ield
(b
u./
acr
e)
Planting Population (seeds/acre)
DKC43-27
DKC44-92
DKC48-12*
DKC48-40
DKC50-77*
DKC52-62
* The version of this germplasm tested in the GEN trials was either conventional or had only the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait. ** Location average and eco-Region average represents the data from 57 germplasms, including the 9 DEKALB® corn brands listed.
Monsanto Company is a member of
Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS).
Monsanto products are commercialized in
accordance with ETS Product Launch
Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with
Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of
Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in
Commodity Crops. This product has been
approved for import into key export markets
with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop
or material produced from this product can only
be exported to, or used, processed or sold in
countries where all necessary regulatory
approvals have been granted. It is a violation of
national and international law to move material
containing biotech traits across boundaries into
nations where import is not permitted. Growers
should talk to their grain handler or product
purchaser to confirm their buying position for
this product. Excellence Through Stewardship®
is a registered trademark of Biotechnology
Industry Organization. Individual results may
vary, and performance may vary from location
to location and from year to year. This result
may not be an indicator of results you may
obtain as local growing, soil and weather
conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate
data from multiple locations and years
whenever possible.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE
LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready®
crops contain genes that confer tolerance to
glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup®
brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand
agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not
tolerant to glyphosate. DEKALB®, Roundup
Ready®, Roundup®, Technology Development
by Monsanto and Design®, and DEKALB and
Design® are registered trademarks of
Monsanto Technology LLC. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective
owners. ©2011 Monsanto Company.
02.07.2011.EJP
2010
GEN Research Data
Northern Set of the Iowa Eco-region
185
190
195
200
205
210
215
28000 33000 38000 43000 48000
Co
rn Y
ield
(b
u./a
cre)
Planting Population (seeds/acre)
DKC48-40
DKC49-93
DKC52-04*
DKC52-62
DKC53-77
DKC55-08Brands
Source: Monsanto internal data
3D response curve for a 88 day Monsanto Hybrid
in the MNSD Eco-Region in 20” rows.
Hybrids have Different Optimal Planting
Populations to Generate the Greatest
Profit
2009 Western Iowa data for 20” rows illustrating the most profitable planting population at local seed price and $3.85/bu corn.
205
235
265
200
225
250
275
300
325
Hybrid A
Hybrid B
Hybrid C
217 226 233
247
266
257
306
283
265
205
235
265
Hybrids respond differently to specific yield environments.
Best Choice
Best Choice
Best Choice
Outcome in bu/a for Three Monsanto Hybrids in Western Iowa Area Using The Most Profitable Plant Populations for
Three Different Yield Environments
2009 Western Iowa data for 20” rows illustrating the most profitable planting population at local seed price and $3.85/bu corn.
Source: Monsanto internal 2009 data from Pro fit
Fall 2009
Northern Indiana Site #1: Yield Environment 185 bu/ac
Pro fitSM Northern Indiana Eco-region data from 2009
Hybrid A Max Yield @ 43k plants/ac (pink) Hybrid B Max Yield @ 42k plants/ac (green) Hybrid C Max Yield @ 37k plants/ac (orange)
2010 Three hybrids tested indicated a linear response
to seeding rate in an estimated 185 bu/ac YE
Northern Indiana Site #1
Source: Monsanto- John Deere internal 2010 data
Things to consider for success with Variable
Rate Seeding
– Can be as simple as changing seeding rates
between fields and by hybrid.
– Amount of Variation in Yield Environments
(YE) within a field.
– Methodology for identifying the varying YE in
each field (Mgt Zones) may be person
specific.
Field #1 Western IL.
Ipava soil
Field #1 Western IL.
Field #1 Western IL.
Field #1 Western IL.
PRODUCT DKC61-21
YE /seeding rate
Seeding Rate Rx (seeds/ac)
Yld (bu/ac) n $ Yield
240 130.49 684 41000 43000
23000 Insufficient Data
28000 126.13 50
33000 127.69 65
38000 129.88 115
43000 131.25 447
200 113.96 1705 38000 43000
23000 120.19 66
28000 112.93 152
33000 111.86 219
38000 113.80 1239
43000 127.86 29
170 96.35 291 31000 37000
23000 Insufficient Data
28000 108.51 28
33000 93.63 199
38000 97.80 53
43000 Insufficient Data
Grand Total 116.27 2680
Field #1 Western IL.
PRODUCT DKC63-42
YE /seeding rate Values
Seeding Rate Rx (seeds/ac)
Yld (bu/ac) n $ Yield
240 142.75 197 36000 39000
23000 Insufficient Data
28000 140.17 57
33000 136.80 60
38000 148.28 45
43000 150.38 29
200 128.83 630 33000 35000
23000 122.85 56
28000 126.33 144
33000 126.34 210
38000 134.25 208
43000 Insufficient Data
170 110.09 68 29000 33000
23000 Insufficient Data
28000 111.68 24
33000 111.98 28
38000 Insufficient Data
43000 Insufficient Data
Grand Total 130.47 895
Field #1 Western IL.
Characterizing YE
• Today the YE determined for each location is
the average yield of the plots contained within
• Next focus is to better characterize each of
the yield environments for every plot at each
location
– Location size is > 12 acres
– Possibility of differing YE within location
• Differing soil types
• Other variation that needs to be accounted for
Characterizing GENV YE
• 12 acre site crosses two soil types – Blount
• < 2% OM
• > 10 CEC
– Pewamo • > 3% OM
• > 10 CEC
• Differing yield environments
• Hybrid response is also probably different
Evaluating hybrids in specific yield
environments/soil types
• Obtain a better perspective on plant
performance for environment and population
• Assess hybrid performance in different yield
environments but under similar weather patterns
• Provide a better placement and population
recommendation specific to environmental
conditions not just yield
• Focus is to better predict hybrid response
across acres that we do not have evaluations
Yield-2009 Arial Photography,
Early Vegetative
Extrapolating data beyond testing acres
• Soil environment was typically characterized by texture
– 12 major classes
– Possibly could utilize more sensitivity
• Soil Types
– 5500 soil types in IN alone
– Are all of them completely unique? • Blount-Fine, illitic, mesic aeric epiaqualf
• Glynwood-Fine, illitic, mesic aquic hapludalfs
• Crosby-Fine, mixed, active, mesic aeric epiaqualf
Field-level indices were created for each
field through soil type performance and
soil composition
• Producer selection of highest productivity highlighted in light blue
• Producer selection of lowest productivity highlighted in light green
• Field list is the order of Index rating
Field Acres
Alfisol
Acreage %
Mollisol
Acreage % Alfisol Rating Mollisol Rating
Field-Level
Index
A 29 57.2 42.8 74.50 77.00 75.57
B 79 18.8 81.2 70.70 73.50 72.97
C 76 28.6 71.4 63.40 65.10 64.61
D 88.8 48.4 51.6 64.50 64.50 64.50
E 76 35.1 64.9 62.00 63.20 62.78
F 32.8 35.9 64.1 60.20 60.50 60.39
G 51.7 75.5 24.5 56.40 62.50 57.89
H 46.3 57.4 42.6 55.90 60.40 57.82
I 158 62.5 37.5 53.60 54.30 53.86
J 57.2 68.1 31.9 52.60 54.70 53.27
K 38.9 52.1 47.9 51.30 55.40 53.26
L 104 27.2 72.8 52.10 53.20 52.90
M 38 32.4 67.6 48.50 51.90 50.80
N 75 66 34 48.70 53.80 50.43
O 42.5 67.7 32.3 44.30 48.80 45.75
Conclusions
• Better understand hybrid response to population
with respect to yield environment
• Evaluation of hybrid responses to population will
continue
• Evaluate the relationships developed in broad
acre settings
• Ultimate goal is to better predict performance in
differing yield environments
• Maximize performance of each product
• Reduce risk for the producer