The anticipation was palpable as crews from Beck’s Hybrids climbed onto a stage and unwrapped a “root cage” — fashioned from a chemical tote — that showed what a corn plant is really made of. As clay material substituting for soil spilled out, a complex spider web of roots was revealed that represent essential life to plants. 

Beck’s Root Reveal Research project, showcased at the company’s Becknology Days field day, is part of the company’s efforts to provide growers with the best recommendations on hybrid management based on farm conditions. To do this, researchers wanted to better understand root architecture and how that informs management of plant populations, stress management and fertilizer placement.

“This has given us the opportunity to look at what roots can do in an uninhibited environment where they have everything they want, where everything’s perfect,” says Scott Dickey, regional agronomy manager for Beck’s. “When you see a root doing what it can do in an unlimited fashion, it's pretty impressive.”

Diving Shallow or Deep

Beck’s has been working with Purdue University, the University of Illinois and the University of Nebraska on research related to root architecture as they explore the root angles of different hybrids. 

The 3 different…