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Maize
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Family | Gramineae |
What does it mean to say maize is self pollinating | It has silk (female) and tassel (male) plant part. Pollen falls from the tassel to the silk where fertilisation occurs |
Why is maize becoming increasingly popular, especially with dairy farmers? | * higher DM than first cut silage *produces little or no effluent *High levels of starch & protein |
soil suitability | deep soil (roots reach 1.5m) pH 6.5 - 7 brown earths |
climate | Maize requires warm climate - soil must be 10 degrees before germination will take place |
time of sowing | Under plastic = March - May Open sowing = April - May |
Rate of sowing | 25 Kg/ Ha |
method of sowing | maize seeder |
germination rate | Under plastic = 7 days Open sowing = 21 days |
Variety | Under plastic = Justina Open sowing = Fergus |
Fertiliser requirements | 65000L slurry / Ha N, P, K |
pest | wireworm |
disease | eye spot |
sympotoms of eye spot | * brown spot surrounded by yellow circle |
harvest - time | By 1st October to avoid frost |
harvest - method | Maize harvester |
Yield | under plastic 15-20ton/Ha Open sowing 13-14 ton/ Ha |
Storage | Ensiled like silage |