Figure 1. Corn row spacings (in inches) in North America as a percentage of total acres, 2015 (Pioneer Brand Concentration Survey).
Figure 2. Narrow row corn adoption (15-, 20-, and 22-inch) in the U.S. Corn Belt. (USDA-NASS farmer-reported row widths, 2013-2017.)
Figure 3. Average corn yield response to narrow rows in northern and central Corn Belt states observed in 20 years of university and Pioneer studies.
Table 1. Yield advantage (%) of 15-inch, 20-, or 22-inch, and twin rows compared to 30-inch rows in recent corn row spacing research studies.
1: Porter et al., 1997; 2: Johnson and Hoverstad, 2002; 3: Sharratt and McWilliams, 2005; 4: Coulter and Shanahan, 2012; 5: Widdecombe and Thelen, 2002; 6: Novacek et al., 2013; 7: Pecinovsky et al., 2002; 8: Albus et al., 2008; 9: Tharp and Kells, 2001; 10: Pedersen and Lauer, 2003; 11,12: Pecinovsky et al., 2002; 13: Van Roekel and Coulter, 2012; 14: Robles et al., 2012; 15: Farnham, 2001.
*Average yield increase at 38,500 and 44,000 plants/acre. A significant row spacing by population interaction was observed.
**Approximate final stand, which differed from target populations.
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Light Interception
Table 2. Light interception at V10 and R2 and yield of corn grown at 34,500 plants/acre in twin row, 30-inch and 15-inch rows in a University of Illinois study (Nafziger, 2006).
Water and Nutrient Recovery
Author: Mark Jeschke
April 2018
The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Please contact your Pioneer sales professional for information and suggestions specific to your operation. Product performance is variable and depends on many factors such as moisture and heat stress, soil type, management practices and environmental stress as well as disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary.