Effects of Plant Density and Tillage on ‘Montauk’ Sweet Corn Robert Durgy, CAES Jude Boucher, UConn

BACKGROUND INFO ‘Montauk’ very popular It makes a large ear Growers complaints: –Sixty-ear bag is over full –Hard to close the bag –Heavy to carry

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER Higher population  smaller ears? Reduction in quality? Profitability?

RESEARCH BASICS Two locations: Griswold & Storrs Cultivation –Griswold: Conventional tillage –Storrs: Conventional/Deep Zone

RESEARCH BASICS Fertilizer: 60 N–120 P–120 K preplant –Sidedress 60 N Planting: –Griswold: Hand planted –Storrs: Matermacc vacuum seeder

RESEARCH BASICS Weed control –Griswold: Lumax preemergence –Storrs: Impact postemergence Insect control: None Irrigation: None Harvest: Hand pick mature ears

GRISWOLD TREATMENTS ,000 (8.5) 30,000 (7) 35,000 (6) 40,000 (5.25) 45,000 (4.75) ,136 (8) 29,870 (7) 34,848 (6) 41,818 (5)

STORRS TREATMENTS –Main Plot: Conv. tillage vs. DZT –Population treatments: 26,134 (8) 34,848 (6) 52,269 (4)

19%

14%

10%

6%

2.5%

16.5%

17.5%

18%

3%

2.5%

RateSeed Cost EarsBagsGrossIncrease 26136$ $2904$ $ $3128$ $ $3520$ $ $4056$981.60

CONCLUSIONS Increasing ‘Montauk’ population: Reduces ear weight Slightly reduces ear length and width Reduces quality over 40K Makes maturity more variable Can be more profitable