Corn Seeds Per Acre Row Spacing Calculator
Calculate corn seeding rate in seeds per acre from a target plant population and row spacing, with seeds per foot and bag counts.
How This Calculation Works
Seeding rate equals the target plant population divided by the expected emergence fraction. Seeds per linear foot equals the seeding rate times row spacing in feet, divided by 43,560 square feet per acre. At 34,000 seeds per acre in 30 inch rows, that is about 1.95 seeds per foot.
Field Calibration & Rate Reference Chart
| Species | Seeds/lb | Target seeds/ac | Bulk lb/ac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue | 227,000 | 3,000,000 | 15 |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 1,100,000 | 1,500,000 | 2 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 227,000 | 4,000,000 | 20 |
| Bermudagrass hulled | 1,900,000 | 2,000,000 | 1 |
| Bermudagrass unhulled | 800,000 | 2,000,000 | 3 |
| Alfalfa | 200,000 | 5,000,000 | 28 |
| Winter wheat | 12,000 | 1,200,000 | 105 |
| Soybean | 2,800 | 160,000 | 63 |
| Corn | 1,400 | 34,000 | 27 |
| Cereal rye | 18,000 | 1,200,000 | 73 |
Common Questions
How many corn seeds per acre should I plant?
Most modern hybrids are planted at 32,000 to 38,000 seeds per acre, aiming for a final stand about 5 percent lower. Match the rate to the field's yield potential and the hybrid's response. Droughty fields use the lower end.
How do I calculate seeds per foot for corn?
Multiply the seeding rate by the row spacing in feet, then divide by 43,560. At 34,000 seeds per acre in 30 inch rows, that is about 1.95 seeds per foot. This figure sets the planter's seed drop.
Does row spacing affect corn population?
Row spacing changes the seeds per foot for a given population but not the population itself. Narrow rows distribute plants more evenly and can improve light capture. Adjust the planter's seed drop to match the row width.
How much does corn population affect yield?
Yield rises with population up to the field's optimum, then declines as plants compete for water and nutrients. The optimum varies with hybrid, soil and rainfall. Splitting the difference across variable fields is a common strategy.