Red & White Milo

[Shaggy98]

I am going to plant red and white milo in the same field this year.  My question is, should I mix the seed in each of my planter boxes or should I plant 2 rows of red and then 2 rows of white or is there much of a difference?  I see both of these methods used around my area but I am beginning to think it is just each producers preference as to what method they use.  Both variety's are very similar in maturity days so they should mature at nearly the same pace.

[sw363535]

Are you expecting a polination bump from the combination?  

I have never noticed one.  We kept them seperate in case one was more likely to lodge.  That way we wouldn't have to pick up the whole field.

I have seen the odd color used in end rows to mark for the combine.

[Shaggy98]

To be honest, I'm not sure what to expect at all.  I've got a neighbor that has done this for a few years now and swears up and down that he gets a yield boost.  I can't argue with him because he consistently has the best milo in the area.  I've watched him a little closer the last couple of years and he basically has the same practice that I have with the exception of the mixed seed.  I didn't plant any white last year but my red was the same variety that he blended with is white and he out yielded me on every field by just a few bushels.  Some of our ground is adjacent to each other and he still out performs me.  It's not that I am dissatisfied with my personal results, I was just wondering if anyone else has any field studies with the blended seed.  What is really frustrating, is that I use a vacuum planter and he uses a box drill.

[sw363535]

I got a good chuckle out of that last line. 

It won't cost much to do some testing. I would think that row by row would get the cross polination----if that is the issue causing the yield bump. --------------------just thinking--------------stooling and spacing might be in the mix also if he is narrower rows with a drill.

The practice is common here in wheat with varied results but not milo.  We are doing a little more irrigated milo and you have us thinking................

[Shaggy98]

I'm not completely convinced either.  I think I am going to plant some of each variety alone, plant a few acres blended, and plant a few acres of every other row.  Sounds like a lot of extra work, but at the price levels we are at I think I should spend a little extra time and do some in field studies.