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Late sowing? Then sow ripe corn in time
Certainly compared to the past 3 years, this spring started cold. As a result of this cold, the sowing of maize has been delayed and has not yet been completed everywhere. For optimal germination and initial development, the soil temperature at sowing depth should be at least 10 degrees Celsius.
Sowing the maize under conditions that are too cold gives a chance of poor and slow germination and possible loss due to an infestation of germ and soil fungi. Especially when it remains cold in the period after sowing.
When the time between sowing and emergence lasts longer than 10-14 days, the growing point (root/shoot) can be attacked by these fungi. A growing point is much smaller than a pinhead. Due to this small size, the risk of damage is extra high. When the sprout is infested by fungal sprouts, then the emergence of this maize plant has happened. When root branching occurs, the fungal sprout no longer has a chance and the maize plant will develop well. It is important to pay attention to the temperature and weather forecast in the period around - but especially after - sowing!
Adjust the variety choice for (late) sowing
Many plots are now sown later than originally intended, while the variety selection may have been based on early sowing. Sowing these varieties (too) late results in a (too) late harvest or the harvest of an immature crop. The harvest of immature maize easily costs 300 euros per hectare as a result of a lower feed value from starch per kilogram of dry matter and a lower starch yield per hectare. This shortfall then has to be bought expensively. So there is every reason to opt for timely ripe maize.
Precisely for the reasons described above, but also to strive for the highest possible balance, it is very important to choose maize with cobs that mature on time in combination with the highest possible grain yield. Maize that ripens on time can really be harvested on time. Often this maize is often surprisingly early in the grain ripening!
Do you also want to harvest a ripe crop in time? Choose PAPAGENO or EXELON!
When harvested at the right time, the yield of the grain is dominant, certainly also when harvesting maize as silage maize. This is reflected in high dry matter and feed value yields. In addition, the nutritional value is also a good indicator of the quality of PAPAGENO. It is not for nothing that PAPAGENO has received a recommendation in the very early segment (FAO 200) on the Official Variety Lists in the Netherlands and Belgium! PAPAGENO can certainly be harvested ripe before October 1 throughout the Benelux, which also means that Fast Spring Rye can be grown successfully on the same plot afterwards. PAPAGENO, together with Fast Spring Rye, gives the highest dry matter, protein and starch yield per hectare!
EXELON if it has to be really early!
The very earliest variety on all variety lists in the Benelux is EXELON. With FAO 170, the maize variety is an ultra-early variety and can therefore still be sown very well in the north of the Netherlands and the west of Belgium without there being any fear that the variety will not ripen in time. EXELON has a good initial development (speed of ground cover) and is sturdy. 2 important properties for cultivation in the mentioned regions.
For reasons of precocity and yield, the results presented in the first graph focus on the grain yield of maize varieties for both grain maize and silo maize purposes. Actual precocity and yield have been determined from the trials in these graphs. This shows that some maize varieties, which in practice are sold as 'early', are in reality not that early at all. With these varieties, the optimum balance is not obtained from a ripe kernel. Here too, it is good to be alert to this as a grower. Especially when it is necessary to sow later than planned due to the lower temperatures than usual in April!
You can still order and deliver!
Maize seed from PAPAGENO and EXELON is still in stock and can be ordered from your maize seed supplier or via our webshop to be delivered quickly. For more information about PAPAGENO and EXELON or about the combination of the cultivation of both varieties with that of Fast Spring Rye, please contact your own regional KWS advisor. His contact details can be found at our website.
