The challenging season produced some unwelcome weather for growing forage maize, but it also underlined several valuable lessons, says Simon Montgomery, ProCam Field Options technical lead.
Decisions at the start of the season can have long-reaching consequences. It goes without saying, but choosing land suitable for growing a heat-hungry crop like maize β such as fields that receive good sunlight β is essential, says Mr Montgomery, but what also underlined was the value of establishing maize under film. It can also bring crop maturity forward as much as three weeks, which increases the likelihood of the crop being harvested before the autumn weather deteriorates.
But where crops were drilled later into superior seedbeds, it might have ultimately delayed harvest, but they often grew better. Key for getting the most from maize is choosing appropriate varieties, says Mr Montgomery, not only for yield and energy but also harvestability. The variety Rodriguez, which is early, high yielding and high in metabolisable energy ME , is one example.
Where it was possible to apply pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides last season, they generally worked well, says Mr Montgomery, but what was clear was the importance of a programmed approach. This was worsened by the cool June, which slowed growth and so reduced crop competition.
Getting maize up and out of the ground rapidly is crucial, says Mr Montgomery. Maize needs phosphate and potash early for strong root development, he stresses, but also a reliable supply of nitrogen N. This fixes atmospheric N inside the plant. Five ideas for better maize in The challenging season produced some unwelcome weather for growing forage maize, but it also underlined several valuable lessons, says Simon Montgomery, ProCam Field Options technical lead.
