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

2. 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

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

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

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

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

13. GRISWOLD TREATMENTS 2011 25,000 (8.5) 30,000 (7) 35,000 (6) 40,000 (5.25) 45,000 (4.75) 2012 26,136 (8) 29,870 (7) 34,848 (6) 41,818 (5)

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

19. 19%

20. 14%

21. 10%

24. 6%

25. 2.5%

28. 16.5%

29. 17.5%

30. 18%

31. 3%

36. 2.5%

39. RateSeed Cost EarsBagsGrossIncrease 26136$183.3021805363$2904$0 29870$211.5023469391$3128$184.60 34848$246.7526376440$3520$521.75 41818$296.1030410507$4056$981.60

40. 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