Should I irrigate this early?

Acre Insights Update 6/14/22

I’ve been getting a few questions today on the leaf rolling that many fields are beginning to exhibit. Without getting too scientific, leaf rolling is a corn plant’s defense mechanism when transpiration can’t keep up with low humidity and high temps. Also, the rows are currently not shaded by the canopy, so the top soil is essentially getting “baked in an oven” with this weather.

On some fields, I am beginning to see root uptake down at 14” deep, so the top foot of soil is rapidly drying out. I have rarely been one to say “let’s push these roots down early in the season” unless we have the perfect weather for that. The forecasted high temps for Thursday and after are as follows, 93°-99°-100°-102°-96°-95°-97°. Three of those days the wind will be above 20 mph.

Additionally, the amount of things happening right now in these corn plants. Most of the fields that I have seen rolling are around the V5-V6 stage. The growing point is now above the ground on those plants, ear shoots are being initiated, number of rows around will be determined here in the next 10-14 days, and the tassel is also being initiated.

Stressing a plant with this much going on is not something I like to do for either 3 or more days in a row. One to two days of high heat and leaf rolling isn't something I am afraid of, if there will be a break in the weather, which as I wrote above, that is not coming.

I write all of this to say one thing, lets use our best judgement based on each field, based upon corn growth stage, irrigation capacity, and yield potential. There are many poor looking fields out there right now due to some devasting storms over the past couple of weeks, but there are also some excellent looking fields of corn with very high yield potential.

There will be much more time to save a little water here in a few weeks when evaporation of water from the soil drops as the canopy shades the row. I always try to keep in mind how two years ago, some pivots didn't get turned on quite soon enough, and they were never able to catch up during the main part of the growing season. Pivots are meant to be supplemental, not to serve 100% of the crop water needs.

I am always up for discussion on this topic, so feel free to give me a call if you have more specific questions!

As far as soybeans go, I think we learned last year that sometimes, less is more for this crop, especially early on, but that's a discussion for another day...

Ryan