SYNGENTA’S AGRISURE NK8840 bested 14 other corn varieties entered in the Corn Derby

conducted recently in San Felipe, Ilagan City, Isabela, by the Department of Agriculture-Cagayan
Valley Research Center (DA-CVRC).

By Zac Sarian

This Bt corn that is Glyphosate Tolerant (GT) yielded 12,823.23 kilos per hectare at a production
cost of 3.43 per kilo. Sold at dry weight basis at 11.20 per kilo, gross income was computed at
143,620.18, for a net income of 99,574.18 per hectare. Cost of production was 44,046 per
hectare.

The Corn Derby is a project of the DA in which different varieties from seed companies are planted
in one location to compete with each other. The results will give farmers valuable information
upon which to base their decision in choosing the varieties they plant.

NK8840 has big cobs and big kernels.

Agrisure NK8840 is recognized for its big cob, big kernels, and proven consistent high yield over the
years. Other desirable characteristics include low placement of the ears—making it easy to
harvest—and its high shelling recovery of 78 to 80 percent.

Two other Syngenta varieties bested the 12 other varieties entered by other seed companies that
included Monsanto, Bioseed, Pioneer, Cornworld, Evogene, and Asian Hybrid. Syngenta’s NK6414
yielded 12,655.58 kilos per hectare (kg/ha) while NK6410 yielded 12,580.23 kg/ha.

In achieving Syngenta’s high yields, the production team followed the following nutrient management
schedule. Just before planting the seeds (0 days after planting or DAP), 100 kilos of organic
fertilizer and 37.5 kilos of complete fertilizer were applied separately on a 2,500 square meter (sq.
m.) plot. That’s the basal application. The first side dressing was done 15 DAP, consisting of a
mixture of 37.5 kilos of 14-14-14 and 25 kilos urea per 2,500 sq. m. plot. The second side dressing
was done at 25 DAP consisting of a mixture of 25 kilos 14-14-14, 12.5 kilos urea, and 12.5 kilos 0-0-
60 per 2,500 sq. m.
 The highest yielder in the Corn Derby, NK8840, which yielded 12,823 kg per hectare.

For weed control, the plots were sprayed with Atrazine and Herbadox on the day of planting. Alika,
an insecticide, was sprayed on the plants 25 DAP. The second Alika application was done at 45
DAP. Armure, a fungicide, was applied 55 DAP.

The three Syngenta entries were planted on June 8, 2017 and harvested on September 26, 2017
(110 days DAP).

The second placer, NK6414, has its own strengths and weaknesses. Its strengths: Suitable for
high density planting; responds to high inputs; easy to harvest because the ears are low; good for
both wet and dry season.

On the other hand, the third placer, NK410, shows consistent high yields in both wet and dry
seasons. It has good standability and semi-drought tolerance, suitable for normal to medium
population density.

Here’s a complete list of the varieties in addition to Syngenta’s that were entered in the competition,
and their performance (in terms of kilograms harvested per hectare)

This story appeared in December 2017 issue.