Maize Flashcards
What uses has maize got?
Forage for animal fed
Biogas production
Bioethical production
Why grow maize?
High yields
Break crop in grassland
Manures and slurry provides most nutrient needs
Drought tolerant
What does maize require?
Warm soil to drill
Precision drilling
What may a late harvest of maize cause?
Rotation problems
Contaminated silage due to wet fields
Soil compaction
What are early maturing varieties of maize?
Require fewer heat units to mature
When do you aim to harvest maize?
Early October
What is the ideal soil depth for maize?
2 meters
What do early maturing varieties of maize allow farmers to do?
Harvest earlier
What soil conditions are needed for maize?
PH of 6.8
Lime is necessary before drilling
How do you achieve a fine seed bed for maize?
Tilth
Why is maize deep rooted?
To access nutrients and water ideal for droughts
What total herbicide should be used in maize if there is a known problem with weeds?
Glyphosate
When should maize be sown?
April early May
What row spacing and width is needed for precision drilling maize?
3-5cm on 75cm spaced rows
What is the target seed rate for maize?
110,000 plants per ha
What % is a realistic expectation for maize loss?
10%
When is post emergence weed control used in maize?
As soon as the crop has emerged due to early weed competition
What pests are an issue with maize?
Wire worm Leather jackets Birds Badgers Slugs
What diseases are an issue with maize?
Rust fungus
Seedling rot
When plant flowers develop for maize?
80-95 days after sowing
What percentage of the crops dry matter yield is the cob?
50%
What percentage of dry matter should the maize be before going into the clamp?
32-35%
What effect does frost do to maize?
Kill the plant
Increase in dry matter
Reduce plant sugars
Mould and yeast growth
What kind of chop do dairy and beef cows need their maize?
Longer chop well managed clamp
What kind of chop do young cattle and sheep have their maize?
Short chop poorly managed clamp
Why do kernels need to be crushed?
Increase digest ability
What conditions should a well managed clamp be?
High levels of soluble carbs
Long narrow clamp
Continue rolling of clamp
Air squeezed out
Why are plastic bag clamps good for maize?
Earlier planting
Advances crops maturity
Earlier harvesting
Higher starch yields
What are disadvantages for maize plastic bag clamps?
High costs of plastics and drilling
Many varieties not suitable
