Effect of Population and Row Width on Corn Silage Yields1

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Abstract
Three corn hybrids were evaluated at two locations for 3 years at 50, 88, and 125 thousand plants per hectare in 92‐cm row widths. Two additional row widths, 46 cm and a double row (paired rows 15 cm apart, with 92 cm from the middle of one pair to the middle of the next pair) were employed at the 88,000 planting rate. Maturity was delayed at increasing populations. The amount of dry shelled grain (DSG) in the silage decreased at the higher populations. Total dry matter (TDM) increased about 6% as the population was raised from 50,000 to 88,000 plants. TDM yield at 125,000 plants was the same as at 88,000 plants per hectare. The DSG/TDM ratio decreased as populations were increased. Changing the row width within the 88,000 planting rate had no appreciable effect on the silage characters measured. There was no indication of a hybrid ✕ population (or row width) interaction for any of the characters.