Source: UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA submitted to NRP
OPTIMIZING GRAIN YIELD AND QUALITY, AND RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY OF MODERN MAIZE AND SORGHUM PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0233674
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 1, 2013
Project End Date
Apr 30, 2018
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
(N/A)
LINCOLN,NE 68583
Performing Department
Agronomy & Horticulture
Non Technical Summary
Maize and grain sorghum are currently produced on over 9 million acres in Nebraska. Production practices of these two crops are changing rapidly as specialty production and biotechnology traits are adopted by farmers'. At present specialty crop options are well developed for maize, while these are emerging for sorghum. Limited information is available regarding how agronomic production practices influence grain quality, especially in grain sorghum. Optimizing yields and resource use efficiency of corn and sorghum are critical for both commodity and specialty grain production. Yield component analysis is a way to better understand changes in crop yield due to improved management, and relates to several grain quality attributes. Updating recommendations for row spacing, plant populations and N management of maize and sorghum remain important to producers, and may become of greater importance if genetic gains plateau as projected by some agronomic scientists. Future release of biotechnology traits promise to offer additional options for production of specialty grain, and increase the potential for more efficient use of water, N and other production inputs.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2031510102020%
2031510106020%
2031520102010%
2031520106010%
2041510102010%
2041510106010%
2041520102010%
2041520106010%
Knowledge Area
204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
1510 - Corn; 1520 - Grain sorghum;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1. Contribute to development of maize and sorghum specialty grain systems producing high quality grain for specific end-uses. Goal 1. Apply GGE bi-plot analysis to white sorghum genotype and environment for grain quality attribute data to select production environments and genotypes to provide desired quantity and quality of grain for use for specific food end uses Goal 2. Determine the influence of environment and genotype on alkaline cooked food products made from white maize grain. Goal 3. Determine genotype, environment and production practices for slowly digestible maize starch. Objective 2. Determine revised production recommendations for maize cultural practices, and N and water management for modern maize hybrids possessing insect protection traits. Goal 1. Determine the influence of maize production environment, water regime, plant population and N rate on maize yield components using path correlation analysis. Goal 2. Determine optimal plant populations for maize hybrids possessing the corn rootworm protection trait in irrigated and rainfed production environments.
Project Methods
Project research will be collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts to include agronomy, genetics, soil science, food science, agricultural economics and statisticians. Most studies will be conducted as part of graduate student thesis research, and as collaborative experiments with other faculty. Economic analysis of the results will be pursued when an adequate data base has been established. Procedures for Objective 1. Goal 1. Randomized complete block experiments with four replications were conducted in 2005 and 2006. Data collection included grain yield, yield components, proximate analysis, hardness and rapid visco starch analysis. Two publications have been completed (Griess et al., 2010; 2011) while completion and publication of GGE bi-plot analysis to match genotype and environment to production of different food products is being completed at present. Goal 2. A diallel set of white maize hybrids from eight inbred lines was developed by Dr. Nora E. D'Croz-Mason. Parentals and F1 single crosses being produced in 6 by 5 lattice designed experiments with 3 replications at multiple locations in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and laboratory analysis of grain samples for proximate analysis, hardness and alkaline cooked parameters have been conducted. Completion of data analysis and publication remains to be completed. Dr. D'Croz-Mason is leading this research team composed of Drs. David Jackson (Food Science), Tom Hoegemeyer, Kent Eskridge (Statistics) and myself. Goal 3. A study including 4 maize hybrids were grown at 2 ARDC Mead, NE and WCREC North Platte, NE in 2012 under irrigated and dryland water regimes and 2 nitrogen rates with 3 replications. Maize grain samples will be analyzed for starch structure and digestion rate by research project leader Dr. Devin Rose to determine if differences are present (proof of concept). If differences are found, treatment combinations will be expanded in future research. Procedures for Objective 2. Goal 1. Randomized complete block designed experiments with split plot treatment arrangement and four replications were conducted under irrigated and rainfed conditions at ARDC, Mead, NE in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Whole plots were two sets of near iso-line maize hybrids with and without rootworm protection trait. Sub-plots were plant populations of 18, 23, 28, 33, 38 and 43 thousand plants acre-1. Experiments were conducted in fields with continuous corn with high potential for corn rootworm infestation. Data collection included grain yield, yield components, stalk and root lodging and maize rootworm feeding ratings. Analysis of variance, Pearson correlation and regression analysis have been completed. Manuscript preparation remains to be completed. Goal 2. Path correlation analysis of waxy maize in the study described in Objective 1, Goal 3 and for a study with 5 plant populations ranging from 26 to 42 thousand plants acre-1and 3 maize hybrids planted at ARDC, Mead, NE and at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia in 2012 and 2013 will be conducted. Data collection will include grain yield, test weight, ears m-1, kernel weight, number of rows, kernels per row, ear circumference and ear length.

Progress 05/01/13 to 04/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Nothing to report - PI retired September 2017.

Publications


    Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Farmers, scientists, and university students Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Retired, but will complete germplasm releases and journal article in the coming year.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Research completed. Analyzing germplasm for quality for germplam releases and finalizing a scientific publication.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Mason, S.C., T.D. Galusha, and Z. Kmail. 2017. Planting date influence on drought tolerant maize yield and yield components. Agron. J. 109: (In Press).
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Lara de Assis, R., R. Soares de Freitas, and S.C. Mason. 2017. Pearl millet production practices in Brazil: A review. Exp. Agric. 53: (onlne, doi 10.1017/50014479717000333).
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Abenyuwa, A., R. B. Ferguson, C. Wortmann, and S.C. Mason. 2017. Grain Sorghum Nitrogen use as affected by Planting Practice and Nitrogen Rate. J. Soil Sci.Plant Nut. http://dx.soi,org/10.4067/S0718-95162017005000012.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kmail, Z., J. Milander, Z. Jukic, and S.C. Mason. 2017. Comparison of path analysis for primary and primary plus secondary maize yield components. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus (Croatia)81(4):197-204.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Milander, J.J., Jukic, Z., Mason, S.C., Galusha, T., Kmail, Z. 2017. Hybrid maturity influence on maize yield and yield component response to population in Croatia and Nebraska. Cer. Res. Comm. 45:326-335.


    Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Crop management scientific and practitioner communities, and also results in instructing undergraduate classes in crop management. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Undergraduate student employees have obtained valuable work experience. A graduate student in statistics is gaining valuable experience with data analysis and the publication process. Research results have been incorporated into course materials used for AGRO 204 Resource Efficient Crop Management and AGRO 405 Crop Management Strategies. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Pulbication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and extension articles, media presentations, and wide usage in undergraduate instruction in crop management courses. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The major activity of the coming year is to complete publication of several manuscripts on research conducted, including on maize plant population, planting date and grain quality. Extension publications from this research are being considered, and plans are to incorporate more results into undergraduate courses.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Activities/accomplishments in 2016 addressed Objective 2 Goal 1 only. In addition, research/publication of saving glyphosate resistant soybean for use in maize - soybean crop rotation studies was pursued. This research showed inconsistent response of maize hbrids to plant population alterations in both Croatia and Nebraska. Through path correlation analysis it was determined that differential yield component responses largely accounted for the inconsistent, and often, lack of maize yield response to increasing plant population.At low plant populations, the number of kernels per row and kernel weight were most important while at high plant populations the number of rows per ear and kernels per ear were the most important. Hybrid differences with yield components were associated with germplasm sources used in breeding efforts for early and late maturity. All primary maize yield components were near equal importance for early-maturity hybrids whiel the direct effect of the number of kernels per ear and indirect effect of the number of kernels per row were of greater importance for mid- and late-maturity hybrids. Although time consuming and costly, path analysis results indicated that ue of primary plus secondary yield components provided more information about maize yield component compensation as the result of different production practices and genetic factors.These results indicate that use of path correlation analysis is not only a good descriptive tool of maize yieldl and yeld components, but also provides insight into cause-and-effect relationships and should be more widely used by scientists. Saving Roundup Ready soybean seed has a series legal issues, but when possilbe, shows not yield reduction and a seed cost savings fo $654 to $85 per ha. This affords some farmers a means to improve soybean production profitability through seed cost savings. Objective 1. Goal 1. Completed in 2014 Objective 1. Goal 2. No progress made due to limited funding. Considering ways to publish preliminary results from research completed several years ago. Objective 1. Goal 3. Completed in 2015. Objective 2. Goal 1. Manuscripts on plant population and hybrid maturity influence on maize yield components published this year. Manuscript on comparison of path analysis for primary and primary plus secondary maize yield components has been submitted for publication. Planting date by hybrid maturity research study completed and presently data are being analyzed for publication. Objective 2. Goal 2. Completed in 2013. Additonal Accomplishments: No soybean yield differences were found between RR1 and RRY2 seed in Nebraska. If Roundup Ready 1 soybean variety seed that is not patented or under PVP is availble, farmers can save soybean seed and reduce seed costs by approximately $20 per ha. The online extension publication from this research was downloaded approximately 1000 times the week after being posted, indicating farmer interest.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Milander, J.J, Z. Jukic, S.C. Mason, T.D. Galusha, and Z. Kmail. 2016. Maize yield components as influenced by environment and plant population in Croatia and Nebraska. Crop Science 56:2742-2750.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Mason, S.C., C.G. Walters, T.D. Galusha, R.K. Wilson, and Z. Kmail. 2017. Planting saved Roundup Ready 1 seed implications on yield and profit. Agronomy Journal 109: In press
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Milander, J.J., Z. Jukic, S.C. Mason, T.D. Galusha, and Z. Kmail. 2017. Maize yield components as influenced by hybrid across a range of plant populations in Croatia and Nebraska. Cereal Research Communications 44: In press.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mason, S.C., C.G. Walters, T.D. Galusha, R.K. Wilson, and Z. Kmail. 2016. Saving Roundup Ready Soybean Seed. Cornhusker Economics (Online), Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kmail, Z., J.J. Milander, Z. Jukic, and S.C. Mason. 2017. Comparison of path analysis for primary and primary plus secondary maize yield components. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus (ACS) 81: Submitted


    Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Crop management scientific and practitioner communites, also use results in instructing undergraduate classes. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?M.S. student Jeremy Milander completed his degree, undergraduate student employees continue to obtain work experience, and results are being used in undergraduate crop management classes. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals, extension media, and undergraduate class instruction. The work on soybean noducation and yield will be published in Crops and Soils and used for continuing CEU credits. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?There are three major activities for the coming year: (1) complete publication of maize plant populations studies, specifically one on hybrid considerations and a second on primary versus primary plus secondary yeld components in path analysis; (2) complete data analysis and publication of planting date influence on yield and yield components of droughgard maize hybrids; and (3) complete publication of RR1 soybean saved seed versus commercial RR2 seed.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Activities/accomplishments in 2015 addressed Objective 1 Goal 3 and Objective 2 Goal 1 only. Studies on inconsistent maize yield response and yield components to alterring plant populations and production practices for waxy maize were completed and moved to publication. In the maize yield response to plant population research, results indicated that different yield components were important under low and high plant populations, and implied that maize management research should recognize and utilize the the relatively greater importance for the number of rows per ear at high plant populations and relatively greater importance of the number of kernels per row and kernel weight for low plant populations to develop best management practices for maize production with low and/or high plant populations. Analysis of secondary yield components in combination with primary yield components accounted for much of the inconsistent grain yield response to altering plant population. Waxy maize had similar grain yield and yield components to previous studies with dent maize. Irrigated and higher rainfall environments produced high waxy maize yields, thus waxy maize should be a viable specialty crop option when minimal market incentives are available. Objective 1. Goal 1. Completed in 2014. Objective 1. Goal 2. No progress made due to limited funding. Objective 1. Goal 3. Viability of waxy maize production determined with similar production practices to normal dent maize. Agronomic portion of the results were published in the scientific journal Maydica. Objective 2. Goal 1. The role of yield components in the inconsistent yeild resposne of maize at different plant populations was determined. Milander M.S. thesis research completed. Manuscript on plant population influence on maize yield and yield components accepted by Agronomy Journal, data used for class and extension activities. Objective 2. Goal 2. Completed in 2013. Additional accomplishments. Occurrence of of soybean nodulation in absence of nodulation in field history and inoculation, and the long-term determental effect of continuous soybean production on soybean yield. Review article on production practices for pearl millet in semi-arid West Africa published, and publication of N status effect on grain sorghum leaf reflectance.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mason, S.C., N. Maman, and S. Pal�. 2015. Pearl millet production practices in West Africa: A review. Exp. Agric. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479714000441.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mason, S.C., T.D. Galusha, and Z Kmail. 2016 Soybean Yield and Nodulation Response to Crop History and Inoculation. Agron J. 108:1-4.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mason, S.C., T.D. Galusha, and Z Kmail. 2016 Soybean Yield and Nodulation Response to Crop History and Inoculation. Crops and Soils (In Press).
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Milander, J., Z. Jukic, S.C. Mason, T.D. Galusha, and Z Kmail. 2016. Maize yield components as influenced by environment and plant population in Croatia and Nebraska. Agron. J. (Accepted).
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Milander, J. S.C. Mason, G. Kruger, T.D. Galusha, and Z. Kmail. 2015. Waxy maize yield and components as influenced by environment, water regime, and hybrid. Maydica (In press).
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Abenyewa, A., R.B. Ferguson, C. Wortmann, and S.C. Mason. 2015. Grain Sorghum Leaf Reflectance and Nitrogen Status. Afric. J. Agric. Res. (In press).


    Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

    Outputs
    Target Audience: The major target audiences have been the scientific community and practicioners, and graduate and undergraduate students along with outreach to crop producers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Jeremy Milander is completing his M.S.degree with thesis research on maize yield component compensation. One study had been in collaboration with Associate Professor Zeljko Jukic at the University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia whose research capabitily has been strengthened. Undergraduate students working on this research project have received informal training, and the research results are being used in a number of University of Nebraska agronomy courses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been disseminated through peer reviewed journal and extension pubications, and use in undergraduate agronomy courses at the University of Nebraska. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In the coming year Jeremy Milander will complete his M.S. degree with three journal articles submitted or published. In addition, a study on hybird by planting date will be completed for the third year, with yield component data collected for all treatment combinations.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. Goal 1 and 2. Completed with journal publication which showed the power of using GGE bi-plot analysis for contracting production of specialty white grain sorghum for specific end-uses. This tool provides grain processing companies a tool for developing contract markets for specialty grain, and helps producers to recognize value-added options to increase on-farm income. Objective 1. Goal 3. Waxy maize grain from different genotypes has been produced under different environments and production practices, but funding ao allow analysis for slowly digetstible starch. YIeld components have been determined, and these are being used to prepare a manuscript on yield component compensation in waxy maize. Objective 2. Two research studies have been completed and published in peer reviewed journals, another submitted for publication, and research continuing. Research submitted and being completed has used path analysis as a tool to address yield component compensation. This objective is complicated by genotype and environment differences, thus research continues.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Novacek, M.J., S.C. Mason, T.D. Galusha, and M. Yaseen. 2014. Bt Transgene Minimally Influences Maize Grain Yield and Lodging Across Plant Populations. Maydica 59: online at http://www.maydica.org/articles/59_90.pdf.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Mason, S.C., K. Ouattara, S.J.B. Taonda, S. Pale, and A. Sohoro. 2014. Soil and Cropping System Management in Semi-Arid West Africa as Related to Potential for Conservation Agriculture. Int. J. Sustainable Agric: online at http://dx.doi,org/10.1080/14735903.2014.945319.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Yaseen, M., J.K. Griess, S.C. Mason, D.J. Jackson, and T.D. Galusha. 2014. Potential Use of GGE Bi-plot Analysis to Evaluate White Sorghum Grain Attributes for End Uses. Pakistan J. Agric Sci 5: 263-271.


    Progress 05/01/13 to 09/30/13

    Outputs
    Target Audience: The scientific community through scientific journal publication, farmers and crop consultants through extension publications, and students through use of new knowledge in classes taught by the Prinicipal Investigator and colleagues. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? M.S. students Mitch Novacek, Ross Barr and Jeremy Milander have all received graduate education and professional development through research, data analyis and manuscript preparation, and graduate courses taken. Undergraduate students in several crop management courses have been exposed to the knowledge generated through this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Knowledge has been disseminated through publications, classroom teaching and several extension activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Current studies on the influence of maize production environment, water regime, plant population and N rate on maize yield and yield components will be completed, along with data analysis, M.S. thesis for Jeremy Milander, and preparation of scientific journal manuscripts.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Manuscripts on "Bt Transgene Minimally Influences Maize Grain Yield and Lodging Across Plant Populations (Maydica)", "Soil and Cropping System Management in Semi-Arid West Africa as Related to Potential for Conservation Agriculture (Int. J. Sustainable Agric)", "Pearl millet production practices in West Africa: A review (Exp. Agric.), and "Bi-plot Analysis to Evaluate White Sorghum Grain Attributes for End Uses" (Pakistan J. of Agron) wre submitted for publication. Field research was completed on the influence of maize production environment, water regime, plant population and N rate on maize yield and yield components was completed, with completion of yield component determination remaining before data analysis and preparation of scientific journal manuscripts.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Maman, N. and S.C. Mason. 2012. Poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer to improve pearl millet yield in Niger. Afri. J. Plant Sci. 7:162-169.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Novacek, M.J., S.C. Mason, T.D. Galusha, and M. Yaseen. 2013. Twin-rows minimally impact irrigated maize yield, morphology and lodging. Crops and Soils. Available online at https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/certifications/self-study/view/522.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Barr, R.l., S.C. Mason, M.J. Novacek, C.S. Wortmann, and J. M. Rees. 2013. Row spacing and seeding rate recommendations for corn in Nebraska. NebGuide G2216. University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Lincoln, NE 68583.