Kernel depth may be determining factor for corn yield this yearKernel depth may be determining factor for corn yield this year

Look at the halves of two corn ears in the picture. Which half has the deeper kernels and the smaller cob?

If you answered the ear on the right, you are correct. These ears came from the Crop Watch 2015 field.

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The farmer planted 12 rows of each hybrid in his 24-row planter all the way across the field. He wants to spread pollination risk, and he does, since the hybrid on the left is rated about two days earlier than the one on the right. In reality, it tasseled and pollinated about three days before the hybrid on the right.

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At this stage when these ears were pulled and broken into two pieces, the milk line was considerably farther down the kernel in the ear on the left than in the ear on the right.

Deeper kernels and cob size are largely determined by genetics. So is color of the cob. Nearly all cobs are red, although one company says they have a new hybrid with a white cob that is a tremendous yielder, and which stands well.

In the not-so-distant past, a white-cob-type hybrid became associated with corn that didn't stand well. However, seed reps assure that's no longer the case. The genetics are completely different today, they note.

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Bob Nielsen, the Purdue University Extension corn specialist, says that up to one-third of the weight of the kernel goes in during grain fill. So grain fill was in mid-process when these ears were examined.

Despite considerable disease pressure, the stalks were still functioning at this point. However, the tap was turned off and it didn't rain on this field very much during August and into early September.

Two types: The cob is smaller and the kernels are deeper in the hybrid on the right.

When the yield monitor on the combine issues a report on yield, we will let you know. Then it will be easier to see if the hybrid with the deeper kernels winds up yielding more or not.

More Crop Watch: Depth of kernels matters on final corn yield