Stand Counts – Annuals

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In use from 2008-09-01

Abstract

Stand counts provide an estimate of the number of plants per area. It is recorded in plants per acre. They are completed each year in September, in each plot with annual crops (G1-G4). In each plot, 3 sub-sample stand counts are taken at randomly chosen sites. The length of the each count corresponds to 1/1000 of a linear acre (17.4’ in corn and 34.8’ in soy beans).

Protocol

Lay an 8.7’ piece of PVC pipe next to a randomly-chosen row of corn or soy beans. Avoid areas that are not representative of the plot, for example, directly adjacent to station flags or sampling equipment. Count the number of plants along the length of the pipe. For corn plots, repeat the count in an adjacent part of the row, so that each sub-sample count encompasses 17.4’. For soy beans, repeat the count 4 times, so that each sub-sample encompasses 34.8’ (see diagram below).

Move to another randomly chosen row within the plot, and repeat the procedure. Complete 3 sub-sample counts in each annual plot. Average the 3 sub-samples to get a replicate. To scale each count to the acre, multiply by 1000.

Diagram of each sub-sample:

length of stand counts along corn and soy bean rows

Date modified: Tuesday, Oct 24 2023

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