Fundamentally Speaking
MN Corn Ear/Plant Ratio
There has been a lot of talk recently that many corn fields throughout the Midwest are developing with two vs. the normal one ear per plant.
This sometimes happens at the end of the rows or in fields with low plant populations.
Furthermore, often the second ear does not fully develop being much smaller and with fewer kernels.
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This year, however it is rather commonplace to have two viable ears and if growing conditions continue favorable, i.e. decent rains and moderate temperatures then that second ear may develop into something substantial as opposed to the usual nubbin.
There is not a lot of literature on what exact environmental conditions aid a corn plant in developing two viable ears though common theories advanced include plenty of nutrients, water, and space for each stalk.
Recall years such as 1992, 1994, and 2004 where incidences of double eared corn plants were quite common enhancing production to such an extent that record national corn yields were established by wide margins.
Common to those seasons were well below normal average July temperatures, a situation again noted this year.
This graphic is a scatterplot showing the corn ear/plant ratio going across the x-axis for the state of Minnesota vs. average July temperatures going up the y-axis in degrees Fahrenheit.
Though not a perfect fit, the r squared indicates that July temperatures explain about half the variability in the Minnesota corn ear/plant ratio.
Note the coolest season 1992 resulted in the highest ratio while hot July's such as 1988 and 2012 saw very low ratios.
Through the first three weeks of July, MN temperatures have averaged about 6-8 degrees below the average 69.1 degrees suggesting this year's ear/plant ratio could be quite high and note that reports of double eared corn is being seen throughout much of Iowa and Illinois.
(KA)
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