Progress Report 26 January 1955
Pennyrile Grain Testing Field
1954 Corn and Sorghum Performance Tests
The cooperative corn performance tests of the University of Kentucky Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Pennyrile Grain Improvement Association were continued in
1954. Results of the tests are presented in this report. The earlier tests (1946-1953)
were reported annually in mimeograph publications.
Two comparative corn yield tests were conducted in 1954 as in previous years.
One=——the uniform performance test——was composed of commercial hybrids that are
grown extensively in Kentucky and the more promising experimental hybrids. The `
_ second test was composed of commercial hybrids being grown in Western Kentucky.
V The rate of corn planting test was continued in 1954, also.
Aygrain sorghum variety performance test was conducted on the Pennyrile Field
for the first time in 1954. Eleven varieties were included. Results of the test are
presented on page 4 of this report.
Experimental Procedure
A cover crop of lespedeza was turned under in the spring of 1954; an application
of 600 pounds per acre of 8=-8-8 analysis fertilizer was broadcast before planting and
· 240 pounds of 4-12-8 analysis fertilizer applied at the row. Hybrids in the uniform
. test were compared in 2 x 10 hill plots using a simple lattice design, while those in
the commercial hybrid test were compared in a simple randomized block design of
five replications. The hill spacing for both variety tests was 42 inches each way,
with three plants grown per hill. The rate of planting test was grown in four—row
plots 35 feet long, with the spacing in the row varying for the different rates of
planting. Grain sorghums were tested in four—row plots of 23 feet long.
Measures of Performance
1. Yields for corn are recorded as bushels, per acre, of shelled grain at 15. 5
percent moisture. Yields for grain sorghum are recorded as bushels, per acre, of
threshed grain at 13. O percent moisture. Corrections were made in the corn tests
for missing and one—stalk hills but not for minor variations in stand. Corrections
for stand were not necessary in the sorghum test or in the rate—of—corn—-planting
l test.
2. Moisture at harvest. The percentage of moisture in the corn at harvest was
y determined by sampling 15-20 ears from each of two replications. The average mois-
ture percentage of the two replications sampled was used in calculating the yields.
Agricultural Experiment Station
University of Kentucky
Lexington