Fontanelle
Making the difference for you
Greensnap
December 31, 1969
By Neal Borgmeyer, Regional Agronomist
Greensnap usually occurs during or just after periods of rapid growth (V5 to V8, and /or V12 to start of silk).
The more highly productive soils and/or high fertility soils tend to increase the rate of plant growth. High moisture and high temperature environments also contribute to rapid growth. Rotated fields can be more susceptible than corn-on-corn.
Stalks are more brittle during late night hours and early in the day before the cells lose turgidity due to transpiration. Herbicides containing growth regulators can make hybrids much more sensitive to greensnap.
Field observations following greensnap events have generally shown that corn in rows perpendicular to the extreme winds are most affected.
The later in the growth cycle greensnap occurs, the yield loss becomes directly related to the amount of stalk breakage that occurred. For example, 10% broken plants will result in a 10% yield reduction because ear parameters have been largely determined by the V12 stage.
Some genetic families are more or less likely to greensnap than others. This is taken into account in our rating system.
Our rating scale ranges from 1 to 9, with 1 being the best score. Fontanelle doesn't offer corn numbers rating 8 or more on greensnap. Here's the definition of our ratings.
7. Not adapted to greensnap-prone areas (flat, black, productive soils in the prairie). One or more of the combination factors listed above can lead to greensnap with these corn numbers.
5. Normally greensnap not a problem. Understand that using growth regulator herbicide with a 5-rated hybrid increases risk of greensnap.
3. Expect to see little or no greensnap. Acceptable for planting in all areas. A combination of all the factors listed above may result in greensnap, however, most likely at lower levels.
1. Will not snap at any time under any conditions. This is the mythical fence post your field sign hangs from. We may never see a 1.