Michigan’s Thumb area study finds no yield increase in Accolade-P treated corn

For the second year, MSU Extension educators in the Thumb and Saginaw Valley studied the effects of Accolade-P on corn yield.

In 2010 and 2011, MSU Extension educators in Michigan’s Thumb and Saginaw Valley studied the use of Accolade-P on corn yield. The study was planted at five sites in 2010 and two sites in 2011.

Accolade-P is labeled by its manufacturer as a biological growth enhancer for corn, small grains, grain sorghum, and non-legume forage grasses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Accolade-P as a seed treatment on corn and determine if its use led to an increase in yield.

Accolade-P was applied to seed corn and mixed thoroughly for even coating of seeds. The study consisted of two treatments: an untreated control and Accolade-P treated seed. Plots were established in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. Plots were 100 feet in length and 15 feet wide (six 30-inch rows). Yield measurements were taken from the center four rows. The hybrid used in 2010 was Great Lakes 4698G3Vt3 and the hybrid used in 2011 was Croplan 388TS.

See Table 1 for study results. The columns for individual years represent the average site yield for that year.

Table 1. Effect of Accolade-P treated seed corn on corn yield

Treatment 2010 Yield (bu./A) 2011 Yield (bu./A) Two Year Average
Control (Untreated) 180.8 163.2 172.4
Accolade-P 177.7 162.9 170.3
LSD @ 0.05 5.6 2.8
C.V. (%) 4.6 5.4

There were no statistical differences between the Accolade-P treated corn and the untreated control.

There are no plans to conduct this study in 2012.

Funding from the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee helped make this study possible.

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