Do Short Corn Plants Limit Yield Potential?

By Erick Larson

As much of the Mississippi corn crop reaches tassel stage, it is apparent some fields are noticeably shorter than normal. What caused the corn to be short and will it reduce yield potential?

Corn height can be influenced by both environmental and management factors.

The most common management variable which influences corn height, besides hybrid genetics, is planting date. Corn planted early is normally shorter compared to corn planted at normal to late dates.

Early-planted corn progresses through a greater portion of its vegetative development when temperatures are cooler, days are shorter, and conditions are generally less favorable for optimal growth.

We also generally experience plenty of wet, saturated soils during the early spring in our climate. Wet, saturated soils are, of course, quite detrimental to both corn shoot and root development.

This presents serious issues, particularly on our heavy textured soils and/or flat or poorly-drained ground.