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1998-09-01
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Crowley, J.G., Improving yield and quality of forage maize, End of Project Reports, Teagasc, 1998.
Abstract
Maize silage is recognised world-wide as a high quality winter feed for livestock.
Attempts to introduce the crop to Ireland in the early 1970’s failed because of the
lack of suitable varieties. The release of maize varieties adapted to the colder
North European and Irish climates has for the first time offered Irish beef and
dairy farmers the opportunity to exploit the valuable assets of this crop.
The transfer of the technology of growing maize under photodegradable
polythene developed in France could further enhance the development of forage
maize production in Ireland.
The results presented show that the early type hybids released over the past five
years are capable of producing high yields of high quality silage in selected sites
across Ireland. To achieve satisfactory yields, site selection, early sowing and
the use of adapted early maturing varieties is essential.
Sowing maize through a photodegradable polythene film laid on the soil surface
has proved successful. This technique can increase yields on average by 3.5 t/ha,
increase dry matter content by 5% and starch content by ten percentage points.
The system also advances maturity by approximately three weeks, guaranteeing
that on most farms the maize crop will be mature and ready for harvest before the
first heavy autumn frost.