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Illinois | Splitting the planter is a great way to test two hybrids side by side and compare across a variety of conditions. it is an excellent way to gather valuable information.
But regularly splitting your planter on every field can have a slew of risks depending on what hybrids you plant.
Are they the same maturity? are they from the same company? Do they have the same trait package or natural resistance to disease?
What if one hybrid has poor emergence and you have to replant? do you tear up every other pass and replant. What complications does that bring in for harvest?
If one is replanted later your scouting and protection windows for silk clipping and disease just doubled. Meaning you may have to spray fields multiple times.
If disease resistance differs and you are contemplating spraying fungicide and only one hybrid needs sprayed. You will have to spray the entire field, where if that field was split 1/2 into each hybrid you could just spray the hybrid that needs it.
What if the pollination windows are slightly off. You have a moderate amount of Japanese beetle or rootworm beetle feeding on silks. normally this wouldn't be a problem, but the insects are feeding on pollen and will go to where the pollen is. So if spread across the whole field they are not an issue, but when they all congregate on the one hybrid that is pollinating they can be troublesome and may require control. once that hybrid is done dropping pollen, the other hybrid may start and all of those insect will congregate on hybrid two. essentially doubling the amount of insect pressure each plant sees.
Side by sides are still a great way to gather data, but it does carry significant risks if doing this across the whole field or on every field.
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Who splits their planter with two hybrids?
