Brian J. Frank, Kansas State Univ, 2004 Throckmorton Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, Loyd Stone, Kansas State Univ,, 2004 Throckmorton Plnt. Sci. Ctr, Manhattan, KS 66506-5501, and Alan Schlegel, Southwest Research Extension Ctr., Tribune, KS 67879.
Corn yields are often reduced by limited pumping capacity of irrigation wells drawing from the Ogallala aquifer. As a result of decreased well capacities in this region, many irrigation systems no longer have the ability to meet peak irrigation (water) needs during the growing season. The purpose of this study is to measure easily identifiable plant characteristics of corn genotypes and relate those characteristics with the ability to maintain yield under water-limited conditions. This study involves 18 corn varieties grown in irrigated and dryland conditions near Tribune, KS during the growing seasons of 2005 and 2006. Plant and soil conditions that are being measured consist of canopy temperature, PAR (photosynthetically active radiation), color, leaf angle, internodes, number of leaves, leaf N, grain yield, grain yield components, and soil water content. These measurements will be analyzed against the grain yield and grain yield components to see if any of the plant characteristics can be used as an indicator of a corn genotype’s production potential with adequate and water-stressed conditions. If identifiable plant characteristics can be found within yield-maintaining genotypes, a producer will be able to better select a variety that will perform well in a growing season with potential or likely water cutbacks as a result of limited water supply or reduced well capacity.
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