The sowing possibilities after maize

The silage maize harvest is already well underway, so catch crops can also be sown on sandy and loess soil as soon as sufficient precipitation is in sight. In this article we list the possibilities again.

A catch crop absorbs the nutrients that are not used by the maize and supplies organic matter to the soil. Harvesting extra grass or the intermediate cultivation of the concentrates for field bean-wheat in mixed cultivation is also possible.

Harvest extra grass
This year the grass yields are unfortunately not easy because of the drought. Sow fast-growing Italian ryegrass after the corn to harvest extra grass when you run out of grass. Grass mixture Havera 2 ensures a lot of grass with a good nutritional value in a short time. In addition to 40% tetraploid perennial ryegrass, it also contains 60% Italian ryegrass feed type. View this mixture >

If the grassland remains in use longer, sow a quality mixture with mainly teraploid perennial ryegrass, such as Havera 1 of Havera 4.

Concentrated feed cultivation as a catch crop
If you have enough space in arable land, it can be interesting to grow your own concentrates on part of your maize land. After the maize, mixed cultivation of winter wheat – winter field bean is allowed as a catch crop, whereby you sow at least two-thirds of wheat. In August you harvest a high-quality concentrate, rich in protein and starch. Read more about this mixed crop >

Another option is a grass or grain catch crop after the maize, which you work in in early spring and then summer field beans to sow. Additional advantage: field bean yields points in the eco-scheme in the new CAP, which will take effect in 2023.

Catch crop for soil fertility
If growing extra feed is not the goal, then you go for maximum nutrient retention and organic matter supply. Sow the catch crop as soon as possible after the maize harvest: after mid-September the N-fixation and therefore also subsequent delivery decreases quickly.

Permitted catch crops are leafy cabbage, radish, grass, Japanese oats, triticale or winter rye, wheat or barley. Our recommendations:

• LG Undersow, consisting of Westerwolds ryegrass, Japanese oats and fodder radish, is also very suitable for under-sowing;
• Silky Japanese oats: develops very quickly, roots intensively, supplies a lot of organic matter and is sensitive to frost, so easy to work in in spring;
• LG Nitrafix, a mixture of leafy cabbage and turnip, fixes a lot of nitrogen and is sensitive to frost, so easy to incorporate in spring