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The best conditions for sowing maize
With a forecast of steady weather with steadily rising temperatures, the maize seed drills will soon be back in action. Sowing maize under the right conditions ensures a smooth germination and early development, so minimal plant loss. But what is the optimal sowing moment?
The optimal sowing moment mainly depends on the soil temperature and the weather forecast. Before sowing maize, wait until the soil temperature is at least 10 °C and the ambient temperature is 15 °C. On average, depending on soil type and region, this soil temperature is reached somewhere between April 20 and May 1. It KNMI measures the soil temperature at four places in the Netherlands, even better is of course to measure yourself. With an inversion tillage, colder soil is placed on top, keep that in mind.
In addition to temperature, the bearing capacity of the soil is of course always leading, make sure that the soil does not suffer any structural damage!
Risks of sowing too early
Given the weather forecast, early maize sowing may well be possible this year, especially on the lighter, warmer soils. But be careful: do not sow too early! Maize seed germinates at a soil from 10 °C, but fastest at more than 20 °C. When sowing early, germination is therefore slower, so that the young sprout is exposed to damage by fungi and insects for longer, resulting in higher plant loss. There is also a risk of damage from night frost.
Moreover, sowing early does not necessarily result in earlier harvesting. Maize is a short-day plant that adjusts its flowering to the length of the day. Flowering starts after the longest day, and the flowering time depends on the maize variety, growing conditions and temperature.
Tackling catch crop
So where you have to keep calm when sowing, this certainly does not apply to the catch crop: work it in as soon as possible if you have not already done so. The nutrients in the catch crop are released about two months after processing. If it takes effect too late, the maize can no longer fully utilize it. If you are going to harvest the catch crop, realize that this will extract 20 to 30 millimeters of moisture.
In the video below, roughage specialist Antoon Verhoeven gives four more practical tips for preparing maize cultivation:
