Update from the Field: Prepare for Lodging
Posted by Dave Dyson, Agronomist on April 07, 2022
Corn lodging, by definition, “is the breakage of the stalk below the ear, leading to increased harvest losses, increased harvest time, increased drying costs, and may result in volunteer corn the following year” (Purdue University). Corn lodging has been taking place at an alarming rate these past few years and has been increasing in both frequency and severity. By identifying the root cause of the lodging, we can provide a solution.
The fungal disease, tar spot, invaded the Midwest corn crop 5-6 years ago and has been radiating from the Chicago area since. This fungal disease is a little unusual because the disease can over-winter in the northern latitudes on the previous year’s corn residue. This disease not only will reduce yields up to 50 bu/ac, but will flatten or lodge the corn stalks, Figure 1, making harvest difficult. Accelerating the rate of decomposition of last year’s crop residue can slow the rate of inoculation of the fungus by taking away the host. During my microbiology classes, we learned the concept of the disease triangle, Figure 2. Three critical pieces are needed for a disease or fungus to take hold and thrive: pathogen, environment, and host. If we disrupt one leg of the triangle, the disease will be reduced or not occur at all.
Figure 1: This picture taken by Maggie Garman near the Waterloo, IN, area in the fall of 2021 has been infected with tar spot and has severe lodging issues. This made harvest difficult to impossible, resulting in loss of yield.Tar spot can reduce yields up to 50 bu/ac.
Figure 2: Disease needs all three legs of the triangle to thrive and survive. If one or more pieces of the triangle can be eliminated , we can reduce or prevent disease or fungus from occurring.
To reduce the residue, otherwise known as the host, the residue needs to mineralize and return valuable nutrients back to the soil in a form usable by the plant. A corn crop will produce almost 50 pounds of residue per bushel. If a field produces 200 bu/ac, there will be over 4 tons of residue per acre that can host tar spot, tie-up valuable nutrients, and prevent the current crop from utilizing vital nutrients. Corn residue can be a source of immense value; 4.73 tons of corn residue contains 75 pounds of nitrogen, 26 pounds of phosphorus, and 124 pounds of potash. In a year when fertilizer is approaching record prices and tight supply, any extra nutrients that we can take advantage of needs to be sought out and used.
Tillage only reduces the size of crop residue; it does not eliminate the host for the disease. The Andersons provides a product to rapidly mineralize crop residue. Bio Reverse® is a robust microbial package specifically designed for residue decomposition. The microbial strains in Bio Reverse are shelf stable for up to 2 years and are suitable for a wide variety of application methods. When applied at a rate of one pint per acre, Bio Reverse will provide 300 billion colony forming units (CFUs) made of four bacteria strains and one fungal strain. The CFUs and combination of strains ensure excellent coverage for improved performance even without additional tillage.
In conclusion, applying Bio Reverse reminds me of the question, “When is the best time to plant a tree?” The correct answer is yesterday, and the second-best answer is today. It is never too late to start mineralizing the residue and reaping the benefits of reducing disease inoculation and increasing available fertilizer. If you did not get a chance to apply Bio Reverse in the fall, you can apply these microorganisms up until the emergence of this year’s crop. If you have any questions on mixability, availability, or application timing contact your Trusted Ag Advisor from The Andersons.
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Dave Dyson is a regional agronomist for The Andersons’ Farm Centers which are located throughout Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. He is an Indiana native and grew up on a dairy farm in Miami County. A graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Crop & Soil Science, Dave has a deep knowledge of various agronomic topics and is committed to helping growers improve their crops. If you have any questions, Dave can be reached at david_dyson@andersonsinc.com.
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