Where to grow (which) early varieties?

Maize has comparatively low expectations in respect to soil and nutrient requirements but a relatively high temperature requirement. It only reaches crop maturity at harvest date if corresponding crop heat units and day time length demands are fulfilled. Maize product manager Henrike Wulfmeyer thinks that therefore in some regions only early varieties should be grown.

Mallorys yielding performance can compete with mid-early varieties.
Mallorys yielding performance can compete with mid-early varieties.
Under German conditions an early variety is defined as such if the FAO maturity class is between 200-220 and the crop heat unit at approx. 1.450°C. In this maturity class a temperature of 12.5°C in September are sufficient in order to reach maturity in due time. Later maturity classes need here higher temperatures.


Early varieties belong into cooler regions

Therefore, it is not advisable to grown late maturing maize varieties, which have higher temperature requirements, in regions where lower temperatures are predominant. Even if the harvest is delayed, those varieties would not generate any extra yield as temperatures are already dropping noticeably at the end of September. Additionally, with advancing autumn harvest conditions worsen rapidly and make a soil conserving harvest quickly impossible.

Therefore, early maturity varieties should be grown in coastal regions in Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg- West Pomerania and Lower Saxony, on marginal land and high altitude areas in Lower Saxony, Bavaria and some regions in Baden-Württemberg. This rule applies to all usages including forage maize for dairy feed, for biogas plants or grain maize.


LSV (county variety trials) proof the performance of the “early ones”

Looking at the LSV data from the year 2016, the German wide average yield in the early and mid-early maturity forage maize segment showed a yield difference of approx. 196 t/ha. Higher yields can even be achieved with a high yielding early hybrid variety in comparison with a mid-early variety (Table 1). For example, the early hybrid Susetta reached in the LSV Baden-Württemberg the same yield as the mean of the control varieties of the mid-early maturity segment. County variety trials supported by regional trials carried out by other research bodies give answers to the main questions when choosing a maize variety: With which early variety it is possible to reach the highest yield? Which variety showed the most reliable yield in long-term trials (yield security)? How promising are the newly recommended varieties 2016?

Due to the climate conditions and a relatively short vegetation mainly early forage maize varieties for cattle feeding or for biogas plants are needed in Schleswig-Holstein. The long-term county variety trials show that the mean energy yield level is at 126.7 MJ/ha (Figure 1).

County variety trials, early maturity forage maize, Schleswig-Holstein 2014-2016
County variety trials, early maturity forage maize, Schleswig-Holstein 2014-2016

The highest yielding early hybrids LG 30248 and Mallory achieve even higher yields if assessed over a two year period. The newly in 2016 approved varieties such as Susetta and Sumatra DS 1398 seem to be promising. In the one year trial assessment both were above the control varieties mean.

The long-term results from Lower Saxony also prove that both varieties LG 30248 and Mallory were the highest yielding forage maize varieties in the early maturity class by far. Therefore, both varieties were recommended for high maize silage inclusion rates and for biogas plant use in the regions of North, East and South Lower Saxony. Here are also five newly approved varieties (Susetta, Keops, KWS Stabil, Farmezzo, Agro Fides) provisionally almost unrestricted recommended after the first year of county variety trails.


Early varieties can also score as grain maize

County variety trials, early maturity grain maize, North Rhine-Westphalia 2014-2016
County variety trials, early maturity grain maize, North Rhine-Westphalia 2014-2016
In North Rhine-Westphalia apart from using maize for forage, grain maize and wholecrop maize play an important role. In the three year trial results of the LSV (Figure 2) it is shown that with both varieties Sunshinos and Laurinio the highest market output ca be achieved. Bothe varieties the same as Colisee, LG 30215 and Ricardinio were recommended for the early maturity class. In North Rhine-Westphalia the forage maize varieties Mallory and LG 30248 also showed a convincing performance due to their very high dry matter and energy yield similar to Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. The new approvals also seem to be promising as with a maturity class of 220 altogether five hybrids Susetta, Keops, KWS Stabil, Farmezzo and Agro Fides were provisionally recommended.

Market performance of early maize varieties
Market performance of early maize varieties
In South Germany are also regions with relatively low heat units. Here, early maturing maize varieties were tested at the county variety trials. The Bavarian grain maize tests of the early maturing varieties up to FAO 220 show that altogether four hybrids reach over-average grain yields ( ES Crossman, KWS Stabil, Sunshinos and Colisee) (Figure 3). The Bavarian two year assessment of forage maize also shows the high yielding potential of the varieties LG 30248 and Mallory. Susetta was in Bavaria and the neighbouring Baden-Württemberg the highest yielding new variety with the highest energy yield.

Summary

It is significantly important to choose a variety with a suitable maturity class. Many long-term tested varieties as well as hopeful newly approved ones from the early segment are high yielding and are even able to excel the yields of mid-early hybrids in many places. Before risking that a mid-early variety does not reach full maturity it is advisable to choose an early one.

Status: 27.12.16



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