March Maize Update

Now that the sun has made an appearance after a long and rainy winter, many people are keen to get cultivating, drilling etc. Now might be an ideal time to look at some considerations before going ahead.

Early drilling of maize has been a key message in recent times, and this might seem like the perfect opportunity to start drilling. A good seedbed is needed, with the seeds going in at a consistent depth, but moisture availability is more important than the depth it goes in at.

The majority of forage maize this year is treated with bird repellent seed dressing, in the form of Korit. This requires the user to read the label carefully as it comes with some risks – correct PPE must be worn. Please ensure that contractors or anyone handling the maize seed bags have taken this into consideration.

Usual drilling practices should still be followed, such as waiting until the soil is consistently at 8-10 degrees at the chosen sowing depth. Not sowing in optimal conditions has potential problems. If the seed goes into soil that is too cold, this can have an effect on germination, and therefore  the final crop yield.

Sowing rate is also an important consideration, where the rate should be adjusted to location and variety.

A higher seed rate will give a higher yield (t/ha) and ME, but can be at the detriment of the starch, particularly on less favourable site. As the density of the crop is increased, the cob size is reduced, so are the starch levels. There is also an increased risk of disease and lodging. If drilling in difficult conditions, or early, the rate should be increase by 10% to accommodate for this.

Reducing the sowing rate, particularly for the more marginal sites, can be beneficial and will encourage an earlier harvest with larger cobs. A lower sowing rate is also useful in situations more prone to drought or for the later sowings.

This combined with a good seedbed, gives the maize a good start, and after the previous few winters, an early harvest will be vital for most.

 If you have any questions for our seed team, call 01243 755620 or email seed@bartholomews.co.uk