Pioneer Agronomy Sciences conducted research in 2004 to evaluate the grain yield and grain quality response of three commercially important hybrids to a range of applied N fertilizer rates. Some of the most important agronomic practices known to affect grain quality include nitrogen application, plant population, planting date and grain handling and drying. In the Pioneer Industry Select program Pioneer hybrids are designated as having grain possessing the high total feremtables (HTF) trait, the high extractable starch (HES) trait or the yellow food-grade corn (YFC) trait. These traits are desirable for the ethanol production industry, the wet milling industry and the yellow food-grade industry, respectively. The objectives of this research were to determine if a N rate X hybrid interaction exists for commercial hybrids when grown in their area of adaptation, and to evaluate the effect of nitrogen on corn grain quality for three Pioneer hybrids. Nitrogen rate and hybrid significantly affected corn grain yield, however there was not a significant interaction in 2004 among hybrids and applied N-rates. At N-rates greater than 160 lbs/A there was not a significant response of grain total fermentables content to applied N fertilizer for hybrids designated as having the “HTF” trait. There was no significant reduction in grain percent extractable starch for Pioneer hybrids 34H32 and 34N44 (HES) at N-rates greater than 160 lbs/A. However, the grain percent extractable starch was reduced for Pioneer 34B20 at all N-rates. Kernel weight and size response to applied N-rates were the same for the hybrids tested in 2004. Kernel weight and size increased with increasing applied N-rates. At N-rates of 160 lbs/A or greater, kernel weight and size was significantly larger than kernel weight and size at lower N-rates.
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