Sure, here’s an article on suitable varieties of fodder maize:
Fodder maize, also known as corn, is one of the most widely grown forage crops in the world. It is an excellent source of energy for livestock and can be used for animal feed in various forms such as silage, haylage, and earlage. However, not all maize varieties are suitable for fodder production. Various factors such as yield, nutritive value, disease resistance, drought tolerance, and maturity duration should be considered when selecting the appropriate variety for your farm. In this article, we will discuss the suitable varieties of fodder maize that can be grown in different regions.
Early maturing corn:
The early maturing varieties of maize are suitable for areas with a short growing season. They have shorter growing periods and generally mature in 75 to 90 days. These varieties have a smaller stature and tend to have higher grain content than stover. The downside of this variety is that they may have lower digestibility and could have low milk production per cow. Some examples of early maturing corn varieties include P 3737, DK 808, and P 3058.
Medium maturing corn:
The medium maturing corn varieties are suitable for the high-altitude regions or areas with longer growing seasons. These varieties take longer to mature than early maturing corn, but shorter than late maturing corn, typically 90-100 days. They are known to have higher dry matter yield per hectare. Some examples of medium maturing corn varieties include DK 8032, DKC 4249, and P 2591.
Late maturing corn:
The late maturing corn varieties have the longest growing periods, typically 100 to 120 days. They are suitable for areas with long growing seasons, high rainfall, and humid conditions. They have high dry matter yield per hectare, high starch content, and high crude protein levels. The downside of this variety is that they require large drying facilities due to their high humidity content. Some examples of late maturing corn varieties include DK 961, P 3546, and DKC 8068.
Drought-tolerant corn:
Drought-tolerant corn varieties are suitable for areas with low rainfall and unpredictable weather conditions. They are bred to withstand dry conditions, and some can even continue growing without rainfall for up to two weeks. Some examples of drought-tolerant corn varieties include DKC 9089, DKC 9090, and P 2023.
Disease-resistant corn:
Disease-resistant corn varieties are suitable for areas with high disease pressure. They are bred to have resistance to various diseases such as Maize streak virus (MSV), Fusarium ear rot, and Grey Leaf Spot. Some examples of disease-resistant corn varieties include P 4362, DKC 6822, and DKC 6582.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, selecting the appropriate variety of fodder maize is crucial in ensuring high-quality animal feed. Factors such as yield, maturity duration, drought tolerance, and disease resistance should be considered when choosing the suitable variety for your farm. Early maturing corn is suitable for areas with a short growing season, medium maturing corn for high-altitude regions or areas with longer growing seasons, late maturing corn for areas with long growing seasons, drought-tolerant corn for areas with low rainfall, and disease-resistant corn for areas with high disease pressure.