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Success with Forage Maize
1. Site Selection
- Southerly aspect, warm sites can be up to 12 days early than cold sites
- Free draining
- Sheltered
- Light textured soils: a) Warm up quicker
b) Can be ploughed later
c) Make better seedbeds
d) Easier weed control
- Less harvest problems in wet autumns
- PH - crop will fail at 5.5, 6.5 pH is ideal
2. Varietal Choice
- Maturity Class is the most important criteria when selecting varieties
- Dry matter yield is most important
- Resistance to lodging
- Early Vigor
3. Seedbed Preparation
- Winter ploughing can be beneficial on heavier soils
- Spring ploughing is acceptable on lighter soils
- Sub Soiling is beneficial, particularly on headlands and gateways
- Minimum number of passes to achieve “Onion Seedbed” (retains moisture)
- Sufficient tilth to allow sowing depth of three to four inches
- Level seedbed to allow even sowing
4. Date of sowing
- Traditionally late April / Early May
- After the 10th April, Maize can be drilled providing a good seedbed can be achieved
- Ideal soil temperatures 10 deg C (not less then 8 deg C)
- Early sowing means:
- More dry matter yield
- More grain content
- Less drought sensitivity
- More lodging resistance
5. Sowing
- Must be sown at 3-4 inches depth for later sowings - earlier sowings to 2½ inches
- 30 inch row width
- Precision drilling is important, if required by harvester.
- Possibly Cambridge role after sowing BUT Be cautious
6. Fertilizer requirement
- Ideally take a soil sample and then consult the RB209 for fertilizer requirements according to soil type previous cropping etc.
- Maize is a very hungry crop, however, many excellent crops are grown with FYM and Slurry only (beware of NVZ areas)
- Starter Fertilizer (MAP or DAP) is most beneficial on low phosphate soils
- Top dressing Nitrogen may show benefits, however severe crop scorch may occur
- Note: the N requirement peak is between the 8-leaf stage and the grain development.
7. Sowing Rate
- Optimum number of plants 45,000 per acre, this will give between 100,000 and 110, 000 established plants per hectare
- Higher populations lodging risk increases, however yield increases at higher seed rates, although in extremely high seed rates dry matter content and grain content maybe reduced
- At lower populations yield is reduced, although in extremely low seed rates dry matting content can be increased
8. Weeds and Pest Control
- Seed should be dressed to control seedling disease and pests, such as wire worms if necessary
- Good weed control is essential as poor control may lead to crop failure
- Pre and post emergence treatments maybe necessary, consult a BASIS qualified agronomist
9. Harvesting
- Aim to harvest at 30% to 35% dry matter
- This is when the grain is at the advanced stage
- At this stage the grain is difficult to mark with a thumb nail and there should be no visual milkiness in the grain
- Harvest when the crop is dry; e.g.: with no surface moisture – on a dry day
- A severely frosted crop will cease to mature, so as soon as weather conditions permit and the crop has dried it should be harvested
10. Chop lengths
- Do not chop less then 5mm, this will reduce milk butterfat
- Ideal chop length is between 10mm and 20mm, ideally 15mm, this is essential for good rumen function
- All grains should be shattered or cracked
11. Ensiling
- Fill the clamp as quickly as possible
- Consolidate well through rolling
- Cover over night if its not filled in a day
- A complete seal is extremely important
- Over lap side shoots or double sheet
- Use extra weight on the shoulders
- Protect from the weather. Birds and rats can be a problem
- Salt applied to the surface can be a cost effective and simple way of reducing spoilage on the surface
Maize silage can usually be fed straight away, as there is a very limited fermentation
Maize Varieties
Due to current high cereal prices, maize is an increasingly popular crop. With high yields, high starch and spring sowing popularity will continue to grow. Our preferred variety is revolver, due to its early maturing, high yield and exceptional dry matter content.
Revolver
Above control yield, exceptional dry matter content, among the highest ME yield per hectare. With exceptional early vigor and a maturity class of 11. The top NIAB tested variety for favorable and less favorable sites.
Nancis
Long standing historic variety, now becoming out classed. With 81% of control yield, ME of 10.9 and maturity class of 10, the ten-year-old variety has been long surpassed.
Crown
Medium yielding, class 8 varieties. Excellent early vigour and reasonable standing power. Very consistent, good all round variety.
Andante
Average Yield; class 8 maturity, and average dry matter content of trial results. Above average starch yield per hectare. Good all round variety.
Fabius
Average Yield, class 8 maturity. Early maturing. First listed 1999. Good consistent variety.
Bonapart
High yielding group 7 variety, average ME at harvest time but high starch yield percentage. Excellent early vigor. Great standing power. First listed in 2004
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