Management of corn through semi-dwarf systems

Abstract

Methods for providing compositions to corn fields prior to harvesting are provided herein. These methods provide an extended time period for the use of lower height or standard height farm equipment in-season in corn fields, while reducing the risk of damage to the corn plants. These methods also allow for late season access with lower height or standard height farm equipment, while reducing the risk of damage to the corn plants.

1 . A method of providing an agricultural composition to a corn field comprising applying said agricultural composition on said corn field from above using a ground-based agricultural vehicle comprising an applicator for applying said agricultural composition, wherein at least 50% of corn plants of said corn field comprise a mutation in a br2 locus as compared to a wildtype br2 locus or comprise a heterologous polynucleotide capable of suppressing expression of a br2 gene or an mRNA transcribed therefrom, and wherein the at least 50% of said corn plants of said corn field comprise an average height of less than or equal to 2.2 meters, and wherein the at least 50% of said corn plants are at V12 stage or later. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said average height is between 0.8 meters and 2.1 meters, between 0.9 meters and 2.1 meters, or between 0.9 meters and 1.5 meters when said height is measured as the distance between the soil and the uppermost leaf surface of the leaf farthest from the soil. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said average height is between 0.3 meters and 1.6 meters, between 0.4 meters and 1.6 meters, or between 0.4 meters and 1.0 meter when said height is measured as the distance between the soil and the ligule of the uppermost fully-expanded leaf. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least 50% of said corn plants are not damaged by said applicator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agricultural composition comprises a fertilizer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agricultural composition comprises a pesticide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said pesticide is selected from the group consisting of an herbicide, a fungicide, a nematicide, and an insecticide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agricultural composition comprises a cover crop seed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said corn plants are inbred corn plants or hybrid corn plants. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least 50% of said corn plants are semi-dwarf corn plants, dwarf corn plants, or brachytic corn plants. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least 60% of said corn plants are at V15 stage or later. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least 60% of said corn plants are at R1 stage or later. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of said corn plants have been detasseled. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said height is measured as the distance between the soil and the ligule of the uppermost fully-expanded leaf. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said height is measured as the distance between the soil and the uppermost leaf surface of the leaf farthest from the soil. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said height is measured as the distance between the soil and the arch of the highest corn leaf that is at least 50% developed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least 60% of said corn plants are not damaged by said applying. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ground-based agricultural vehicle comprises a self-propelled agricultural sprayer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agricultural sprayer comprises an applicator arm or boom. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the lower surface of said applicator arm or boom is positioned equal to or less than 2.0 meters above soil level. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ground-based agricultural vehicle comprises a main body. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lower exterior surface of said main body is equal to or less than 2.0 meters above soil level. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of said applicator is positioned equal to or less than 2.0 meters above soil level. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of said applicator is positioned at least one centimeter higher than the average height of said corn plants. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of said applicator is positioned equal to or less than 15 centimeters lower than the average height of said corn plants in said corn field. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of said applicator is positioned equal to or less than 15 centimeters taller than the average height of said corn plants in said corn field. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator comprises at least one nozzle. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator comprises at least one drip line. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator comprises at least one wicker. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least 60% of said corn plants comprise a mutation in a br2 locus as compared to a wildtype br2 locus. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least 60% of said corn plants comprise a heterologous polynucleotide capable of suppressing expression of a br2 gene or an mRNA transcribed therefrom. 
     
     
         32 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applying comprises applying a liquid agricultural composition. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applying comprises applying a solid agricultural composition. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applying comprises applying a gaseous agricultural composition. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applying comprises spraying. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applying comprises dripping. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said corn field comprises a planting density of at least 10,000 corn plants per acre. 
     
     
         40 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A method of providing an agricultural composition to a corn field comprising applying the agricultural composition on the corn field from above using a ground-based agricultural vehicle comprising an applicator for applying the agricultural composition, where the corn plants of the corn field comprise an average height of less than or equal to 1.0 meter, and where at least 50% of the corn plants are at V6 stage or later, and wherein the at least 50% of corn plants comprise a mutation in a br2 locus as compared to a wildtype br2 locus or comprise a heterologous polynucleotide capable of suppressing expression of a br2 gene or an mRNA transcribed therefrom. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said average height is between 0.1 meters and 1.0 meter, between 0.2 meters and 1.0 meter, or between 0.2 meters and 0.4 meters when said height is measured as the distance between the soil and the uppermost leaf surface of the leaf farthest from the soil. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said average height is between 0.1 meters and 0.5 meters, between 0.09 meters and 0.3 meters, or between 0.09 meters and 0.5 meters when said height is measured as the distance between the soil and the ligule of the uppermost fully-expanded leaf. 
     
     
         52 . A method of providing an agricultural composition to a corn field, comprising applying the agricultural composition to the corn field from above using a ground-based agricultural vehicle with an applicator for applying the agricultural composition, where the ground-based agricultural vehicle comprises a main body, and where the applicator is attached to the main body, where the lower exterior surface of the main body and/or applicator is positioned at a height equal to or less than 1.5 meters above soil level, and where at least 50% of the corn plants of the corn field are at V8 stage or later, and wherein the at least 50% of corn plants comprise a mutation in a br2 locus as compared to a wildtype br2 locus or comprise a heterologous polynucleotide capable of suppressing expression of a br2 gene or an mRNA transcribed therefrom. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said average height is between 0.4 meters and 1.5 meters when said height is measured as the distance between the soil and the uppermost leaf surface of the leaf farthest from the soil. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said average height is between 0.1 meters and 1.0 meter, between 0.2 meters and 1.0 meter, or between 0.2 meters and 0.4 meters when said height is measured as the distance between the soil and the ligule of the uppermost fully-expanded leaf. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said agricultural composition comprises a fertilizer. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said agricultural composition comprises a pesticide. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said agricultural composition comprises a cover crop seed. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 52 , where the corn plants are inbred corn plants or hybrid corn plants. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 52 , where the at least 50% of the corn plants are semi-dwarf corn plants, dwarf corn plants, or brachytic corn plants. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the lower surface of said applicator is positioned at least one centimeter higher than the average height of said corn plants.