Twin- and Single-Row Corn Production in Northeast Missouri.

Farmers may consider adopting narrow-row corn (Zea mays L.) due to potential yield advantages; however, variable yield benefits, risk, and costs affect adoption.  Twin-row corn planted in two, 19-cm spaced rows on 76-cm centers allows farmers to utilize existing harvest equipment.  Research was conducted on claypan soils to evaluate the effect of twin-row corn compared to narrow- (≤ 57-cm) and 76-cm single-row corn in separate small plot conventional, no-till, and large-plot no-till trials in Northeast Missouri.  This research determined the effect of 1) row spacing on intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) and grain yield, and 2) twin-row plant arrangement and population compared with single rows on grain yield.  There was no grain yield increase with narrow- compared with twin- or single-row corn.  Recommendations for plant populations in narrow-, twin-, and singe-row spacings were similar since there was no interaction between row spacing and plant population for the hybrids in this research.  Twin- and 76-cm single-row corn grain yield and IPAR was similar regardless of twin-row corn plant placement in all trials except in large-plot, no-till research with a natural European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner) infestation.