Example 1 - Corn Fungicide Application (Figures 1-7)
Figure 1. Encirca Pro satellite imagery and associated application map for VT corn fungicide application in Carroll County, IA, August 2018.
Figure 2. Drone field images captured in mid-September showing improved plant health in the corn fungicide treatment strip.
Figure 3. Improved plant health in the treated strip is still visible in a drone image taken in mid-October.
Figure 4. Differences in stalk strength and standability associated with fungicide treatment were apparent when scouting the field in October.
Figure 5. Ears sampled in October showed improved yield potential corresponding to better plant health in the fungicide-treated strip. Treated: left Untreated: right
Figure 6. Drone image showing fungicide treatment vs. non-treated area at harvest timing.
Figure 7. Harvest map of field showing increased yield levels in the fungicide-treated strip compared to the untreated areas of the field. The treated area had a 21.8 bu/acre yield advantage in this example.
Example 2 - Field Edge Effect (Figures 8-10)
In 2017 and 2018, several growers noticed reduced yields on the edges of many corn fields.
In some cases, growers anticipated this issue as they saw reduced crop health in the Crop Health Index images. Others were surprised by the results, and many were looking for answers as to why yields were reduced so much on the outside edges of many corn fields. Some key observations included:
Damage was worse on fields bordered by a crop other than corn (soybeans or pasture).
The south and west field edges tended to be affected more than north and east edges.
Many growers suspected herbicide damage due to the close proximity to a different crop (soybeans/pasture) and the high frequency of yield loss associated with reduced crop health along the affected edges.
Pioneer Field Agronomists used the Encirca® services Crop Health Index tool to determine that herbicide injury was not the primary cause of this field edge effect in most cases.
In 2017, soybean post-emergence herbicides were typically applied in mid- to late-June when corn would have been at ~V10 stage of development. During the weeks following soybean herbicide application, no evidence or crop injury was observed in the corn. Review of Crop Health Index maps showed the damage did not start to show up until mid-July and progressed throughout the month of August (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Sequence of Crop Health Index maps showing progression of affected area along a field edge from June 10 to September 1, 2017.
Nutrient and water demands are very high at this time.
Most critical impacts from drought typically occur approximately two weeks prior to silking.
Extra summer wind stress on the south and west field edges likely exacerbated water and nutrient stress in those areas.
Figure 9. Ears showing reduced kernel counts in affected area.
Figure 10. Yield map showing reduced yield levels in affected areas.
Example 3 - Fertilizer Application (Figures 11-12)
Figure 11. Crop Health Index image showing ammonium sulfate treatment blocks and associated improvement of plant health in July 2018.
Figure 12. Ear pictures for untreated (top) and treated (bottom) ammonium sulfate blocks (1/1000th of an acre) showing improved grain yield potential and grain quality.
Example 4 - Poor Plant Health Diagnosis (Figures 13-15)
Figure 13. Crop Health Index image from early July 2017.
Figure 14. Roots sampled from the affected (left) and unaffected areas (right) showing severe corn rootworm feeding in the affected area.
Figure 15. Crop Health Index map showing an area of reduced crop health caused by corn rootworm feeding and yield map showing a corresponding area of reduced yield.
Authors: Ryan Clayton, Pioneer Field Agronomist; and Sandy Endicott, Agronomy Manager
December 2018
The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Please contact your Pioneer sales professional for information and suggestions specific to your operation. Product performance is variable and depends on many factors such as moisture and heat stress, soil type, management practices and environmental stress as well as disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary.
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Encirca® services provides estimates and management suggestions based on statistical and agronomic models. Encirca services is not a substitute for sound field monitoring and management practices. Individual results may vary and are subject to a variety of factors, including weather, disease and pest pressure, soil type and management practices.
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