This year I had two farms with test plots on them. (actually every field is a test plot IMO) Here are this years results from the first field.  These plots are on the farm I have been working on improving soil health for the last 16 years.  The goal of this test was to see how well different hybrids could utilize a healthy soil environment without added inputs in a corn on corn environment.  As well as to find what could be produced in that healthy environment if the right hybrid was chosen.

Plot 1. Dryland zero disturbance NT Corn on Corn  population 20.5K.  Manure was last applied to this part of the field in 2005.  No fertilizer or N was applied from any source in the fall nor the spring in 2010 or 2011 except the 1.7#AMS/10gal/acre with each of the 2 glyphasate applications.  Planted May 17.  30" Rows running east- west.  Harvested Nov 1st.  Windstorm damage on July 11 was severe 80% to Croplan 6926zn and moderate damage 30% to NK 74C.  Most other hybrids were less than 5% damage.  Last year N68B made 197bu dry in this field average, unfortunately I did not test this specific test area seperate last year for exact comparison.

2011 dryland plot:
1. NK N74C 3000GT       143 bu
2. NK N54H 3000GT       143.4 bu
3. NK N61P 3000GT       131.3 bu
4. NK N64S 4011            141.9 bu
5. NK N68B 3111Vip      159.6 bu
6. NK N69H 3000GT       157.8 bu
7. NK N74R 3000GT       171.9 bu
8. Croplan 6926zn VT3     86.8 bu
9. Dekalb 62-97 VT3pro 170.8 bu
10. Dekalb 63-84 VT3     141.4 bu
11. Mycogen 2V702         179.1 bu
12. Mycogen 2D744         144    bu
13. NK N74C 3111Vip     132.5 bu
14. NK N74C 3000GT      162.8 bu
                                

Plot 2.  (Limited) Irrigated zero disturbance NT Corn on Corn population 31K.  Manure was last applied in 2005.  50# of N was applied through the pivot just after polination.  Otherwise same as the above dryland plot  Last year on this field Irrigated N68B made 205.
Irrigated 4 passes of .75 to 1 inch per pass.

2011 irrigated plot:
1. NK N74C 3000GT       173.8 bu   moderate wind damage.
2. NK N54H 3000GT       198.3 bu  
3. NK N61P 3000GT       195.7 bu
4. NK N64S 4011            171.5 bu   bad hybrid conversion.  had 10%+ stand die when sprayed with glyphasate
5. NK N68B 3111Vip      185.1 bu   The little engine that could.  390 bu in two years back to back with only 50#N
6. NK N69H 3000GT       178.1 bu
7. NK N74R 3000GT       204.5 bu    My favorite on this plot
8. Croplan 6926zn VT3   163.4 bu    bad wind damage
9. Dekalb 62-97 VT3pro  206.3bu    nice, but very expensive.  This better make 7-15 bu more just to pay for seed IMO.
10. Dekalb 63-84 VT3     177.7bu
11. Mycogen 2V702         188.7 bu   wettest corn of the plot by several points
12. Mycogen 2D744         165.4 bu
13. NK N74C 3111Vip     156.0 bu   moderate wind damage, did not stand well.
14. NK N74C 3000GT      175.8 bu   moderate wind damage


Plots were 8 rows wide and 333 feet long on the dryland/ 776 feet long on the irrigated.  The balance of this field was planted to N74C and produced 175-180bu. I applied 15 tons manure/acre on the surface of 10 acres of this field this spring and that portion was hovering around 200 so I estimate a 20-25bu yield jump from the manure despite the wind damage. 

Comments:  This plot was very enlightening to me.  I will test new hybrids on my farm on a small scale before planting whole fields to the "latest and greatest" new hybrid.  This plot showed me which hybrids could potentially pull their own weight.  It also showed me what healty soil can produce as a baseline on my farms.  I am glad the wind damaged the plot, because it really showed me which hybrids do not provide me with enough stalk strength.  The two hybrids that did the worst were "supposed" to do the best according to area plots -last year.

My other plot was 40 miles away, involved 10 repititions of 3 hybrids - 78W, 74R, 74C.  78W won every one.  I will post the results later