Field drying of TopCross high-oil corn grain

Most high-oil (HO) corn (Zea mays L.) grown in the USA utilizes the TopCros s system, which involves planting a blend (TC Blend) of two types of corn. Field grain drying of TC Blends may be slower than normal (low oil) corn hy brids of similar maturity, which could result in later harvest or increased costs of artificial drying after harvest. The objective of this study was to determine whether HO grain produced by TC Blends dries to moisture perce ntages typically associated with corn harvests on the same calendar dates a s normal corn gain. Field drying of corn grain was followed in five TC Blen ds and their normal counterparts (check hybrids) grown in strip plots estab lished at multiple locations in central Ohio in 1995 and 1995. Moisture mea surements of grain from HO and check hybrids during field drying and at har vest were determined using the USDA approved air-oven drying method, commer cial electronic moisture testers, or both. Differences in field grain dryin g and grain moisture at harvest between the TC Blends and their respective check hybrids were generally small and not significant (P = 0.05), with onl y one of the Eve pairs showing large differences each year. Differences in grain drying were greater in 1995 than in 1996, suggesting that environment al conditions may influence differences in the time required for HO and che ck hybrid grain to reach harvest moisture levels. Results of this study ind icate that HO corn can be produced without additional grain-drying costs.