First Results of Corn Seedling Count at the ‘Profit Field’ Site in Kyiv Region

In the Kyiv region at the ‘Profit Field’ site, the first analyses of the seedling emergence of the corn hybrid LG 31305 (FAO 290) from the company ‘Limagrain Ukraine’ have begun. A seeding rate of 62 thousand seeds per hectare was used for the study, with particular attention given to three main soil preparation technologies using equipment produced by BEDNAR.

This is reported by AgroReview

Overview of Soil Preparation Technologies for Corn Sowing

• BEDNAR MULCHER MZ Rotary Shredder + BEDNAR STRIP-MASTER Cultivator: Mulching with straw affected the microclimate in the row zone. It was found that the soil temperature under the mulch is on average 1–2 °C lower than in partially exposed areas. This significantly impacts the determination of optimal sowing dates, making it important to consider the soil temperature regime when choosing a tillage technology.
• BEDNAR DURACUT TE 12400 Roller Shredder + STRIP-MASTER: In this variant, the highest seedling emergence was achieved due to the uniform mixing of straw with the soil, which ensured effective warming of the sowing zone and an active start for the crop.
• Spring Tine Harrow + Direct Sowing: Despite the cool weather conditions during sowing, the majority of seedlings emerged within the first two days. Residual plant materials are actively mineralizing, ensuring the availability of nutrients for corn.

“Here we saw the overwhelming majority of seedlings on the very first day. The soil warmed up better since the straw did not lie in a continuous cover. As a result, up to 100% of the plants emerged on the first and partially the second day,” shares observations by Volodymyr Makhota, an expert from Agrilab.

Key Factors Affecting Seedling Emergence

An important indicator for the start of sowing was the surface coverage density of plant residues on the soil. The greater the coverage density, the slower the sowing zone warms up, which affects the timing of seedling emergence. A temperature difference of even 1–2 degrees can cause a delay in emergence by a day and influences the level of emergence, as some plants appear later and may compete with each other. However, experts note that if it is only a slight delay in emergence, this usually does not affect the future yield. Potential problems may arise only with a significant reduction in emergence, when plants at different stages of development grow simultaneously in the field.

According to the count results, all three technologies provided quality corn seedlings. Despite minor differences in the dynamics of emergence, the majority of plants appeared within the first two days after sowing. Experts predict high uniformity of the crops and potentially good productivity in the subsequent growing season.