K-State Research and Extension news service
In this video, K-State Research and Extension agronomist Ignacio Ciampitti discusses what goes into producers’ decisions regarding planting an optimal or maximum seeding rate for corn.
“In many situations, the evolution of the seed rate increases as you have more availability of water, or more precipitation,” Ciampitti said.
In Kansas, he said seeding rates vary from as few as 15,000 seeds per acre in western Kansas, to as many as 28,000 seeds per acre in the eastern side of the state.
But choosing the maximum seeding rate for a region is not always the best decision, he said.
“When you start doing the math on the number of seeds planted and bushels (harvested), you may rather stay on the optimum or something less to the maximum,” he said. “Because if you are exactly on the maximum, you may be taking a higher risk.”
“Think about your optimal seeding rate; when you go way beyond the optimal seeding rate…you make your crop more dependent on rain.”
K-State Research and Extension video provided by Shelby Varner
