News

Managing corn in wet conditions

Researchers at Ohio State University are evaluating how to better manage waterlogged corn.

Assistant professor Alex Lindsey says increased rain events in the spring have made flooded fields more common in parts of the Midwest.

“Days that are workable for fieldwork in the spring have been shrinking, in part because of these heavy rain events, and so some of the questions that have been arising here in Ohio is how do we manage corn better under flooding conditions and how do we deal with nitrogen application?” he says.

Lindsey says temperatures greatly impact corn stress and emergence after heavy rains.

“If we have standing water and cooler temperatures like 60°F, you can get about 80 percent emergence under these conditions,” he explains. “If there was no flooding that occurred, and after two days of flooding, you could still expect to get about 70 to 80 percent emergence.”

Lindsey says research is also finding nitrogen applications after flooding have a positive impact on crop yields.

“Current maximum return to nitrogen values for nitrogen applications are likely still adequate, regardless of whether you’re going to be experiencing flooding or not, but it seems like the post-flood nitrogen may be more critical and impactful on yield recovery,” he shares.

He says nitrification products did seem to reduce leaching in studies as well.

Lindsey was a guest presenter during a recent Michigan State University Extension Field Crops Virtual Breakfast.