Large Corn Seed Planting Recommendations

The size and shape of commercially available corn seed can vary from year to year, due to interactions between the genetics of the corn seed product and the seasonal growing conditions under which it was produced. For example, seed size may increase if a crop receives lots of moisture after pollination. Conversely, drought and high heat can produce larger, rounder seeds by reducing fertilization, leaving more space on the ear for the remaining fertilized ovules to expand (Figure 1). Regardless of the cause, seed size and shape does not affect genetic yield potential.

A well maintained, properly adjusted, and correctly equipped planter is able to handle seeds of different sizes and shapes. The manufacturer’s equipment manuals should be reviewed to help determine the recommended settings or equipment changes needed for planting any seed, including larger seed.

Lubricants and Corn Seed Treatments

Large seed may require additional lubricants such as Bayer Fluency Agent Advanced Seed Lubricant, talc in vacuum planters, or graphite in finger pickup planters. Because of the additional lubricants and any seed treatments, air or vacuum pressure may need to be adjusted to maintain the seed against seed discs and to allow for proper seed flow. To maintain unobstructed seed delivery from bulk tanks to individual planter rows, seed within the tank should be generously mixed with talc, graphite, or a blend, depending on manufacturer recommendations. The materials should be added to the tank as seed is poured in to allow for adequate coating. If the lubricants are placed in the middle of the tank after it is filled with seed, they are likely to be funneled down the center instead of adequately covering the remaining seed.

Large Corn Seed and High-Speed Planters

• Kinze^® True Speed^® Vacuum Meter
  The True Speed^® Metering system utilizes a 32-cell disc (G10892X) that allows for the planting of all corn seed sizes. Recommended water vacuum levels range from 12 to 20 with low vacuum levels for small seeds at low speed and higher vacuum levels for large seeds and higher speeds.
• Kinze^® True Rate^® Vacuum Meter
  The True Rate^® Metering system utilizes a 40-cell disc (G11152X) that allows for the planting of all corn seed sizes with 80,000 kernel bag weights of 35 to 70 pounds. Recommended water vacuum levels range from 18 to 20 inches with higher levels for larger seed. Singulator zone setting recommendation is 2.
• Case IH Advanced Seed Delivery™ (2000 Series Early Riser^® planter) uses Precision Planting^® SpeedTube^® flighted belt with vSet^® 2 vacuum seed meter with vDrive^® electric drive motor.
  Recommended settings from manufacturer for seed size weight of 1000 to 2800 seeds/lb, seed disc 73368257, singulator 47779567, ejector 47779566, baffle position 2, water vacuum setting of 20, large seed inductor box.
• John Deere ExactEmerge™ planters use BrushBelt™ delivery with two electric motors. Mechanism designed to plant corn seeds regardless of seed size.

Corn Seed Planters with Vacuum Metering Units

• John Deere MaxEmerge™ 5e planters use a seed tube with one electric motor. Mechanism designed to plant corn seeds regardless of seed size.
• Case IH Advanced Seed Meter (ASM) Early Riser^® 1200 Series Planters
  Manufacturer recommendations for seed size weight of 1200 to 1700 seeds/lb include the use of seed disc 4855 (48, 5.5 mm holes) with a water vacuum setting of 20 to 22, baffle setting of 2, singulator dial setting of 3, and large inductor box air baffle 84594220. Bulk fan speed 3500 RPM.
• John Deere Vacuum Meter™ & Pro-Series™
  • 80,000 seed corn unit weight of 49 to 53 lb, use water vacuum level of 9 to 10, standard disc A50617
  • 80,000 seed corn unit weight of 54 to 57 lb, use water vacuum level of 9 to 11, standard disc A50617
  • 80,000 seed corn unit weight of 58 to 61 lb, use water vacuum level of 11 to 12, standard disc A50617
  • 80,000 seed corn unit weight of 62 plus, use water vacuum level of 11 to 15, standard disc A50617
• John Deere ProMax 40 Flat Seed Metering Disks (A52391)
  • Can be used for all seed sizes.
  • Double eliminator is required for proper operation – option code 9215 for MaxEmerge XP™ units and base equipment for MY09 and more recent Pro-Series XP™ row units. When switching back to a cell-style disk, such as a soybean disk, the double eliminator must be set to the storage or disengaged position. Need to 1) remove the knockout wheel, 2) install a cell-disk scraper, 3) remove the double-notch brush, and 4) install a single-notch brush. (ProMax 40 Flat Disk, Deere & Company, Moline, IL)

Corn Seed Planters with Radial Meter Mechanisms

• Kinze^® EdgeVac^® Metering Planters
  Use 39-cell light blue disc and water vacuum of 19 to 21 inches for 80,000 seed corn units of 35 to 70 pounds.
• Kinze^® Finger Mechanism Planters
  Kinze recommended meter RPM is 55 to 65 for most conditions. Adjust RPM accordingly to achieve desired accuracy if over- or underplanting. Large seeds may singulate easier than smaller seeds. Factory rolling torque specifications are 22 to 25-inch pounds.
• John Deere Finger Mechanism Planters
  John Deere recommended meter RPM is 55 to 65 for most conditions. Adjust RPM accordingly to achieve desired accuracy if over or underplanting. Large seeds may singulate easier than smaller seeds. Factory rolling torque specifications are 23 to 25-inch pounds.
  

Case IH Early Riser^® Drum Planters

Manufacturer recommendations include 36-hole drum speed of 35 RPM with air pressure set from 9 to 11 ounces. For large seeds, use higher pressure and wire the brush down.

White Air Planters (5100/6100)

For larger seed, use regular disc (852435) with air pressure settings of 2.0 to 3.0 psi depending on size of seed. As an example, 2.5 to 3.0 should be considered for 80,000 kernel units weighing 62 lb or more.

White Air 5400

For 80,000 seed corn units of 46 to 70 pounds use seed disc W24745B. For 60-to-70-pound seed units, use seed disc W247396B.

Please see Planter Adjustments for Size and Weight Differences for Corn Seed for additional information.

Additional Resources
Kinze. https://www.kinze.com/
Case IH. https://www.caseih.com/en-us/unitedstates
John Deere. https://www.deere.com/en/
Bayer Historic Seed Size Planting Information
1210_799750