Abstract

The objectives of this investigation were to study the effects of marginal site conditions and hybrid on plant development, agronomic performance and nutritive characteristics of forage maize (Zea mays L.) at high latitudes. Field experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 at three experimental sites, Kristianstad, Skara and Vasteras, at increasing latitudes from 55 degrees-60 degrees N. Experimental design used two replicated randomized complete blocks at each site with three maize hybrids, Avenir (FAO 180), Isberi (FAO 190) and Burli (FAO 210), which were continuously assessed for plant development and harvested at various levels of maturity. The chemical composition and nutritional characteristics of harvested plant materials were analysed and hybrid responses to advancing maturity in terms of yield and nutritional qualities were evaluated. Results showed that maize hybrids required different numbers of accumulated thermal units at sites on varying latitudes to achieve developmental stages. Lowest thermal unit requirements among hybrids were observed for hybrid Avenir, and for sites it was highest for plants grown in the most northern site, Vasteras. The most southern site, Kristianstad, was the only site at which all hybrids reached the dent stage (c. 450 g kg(-1) kernel DM), a recommended maturity for ensiling. The DM yields of early maturing hybrid Avenir were consistently lower than those for Isberi and Burli at all the sites. Results also revealed nutritional differences among maize hybrids at a given maturity (DM, g kg(-1)), indicating that the effects of maturation should be factored into design of hybrid performance trials. This study highlights the effects of marginal site conditions and hybrids on plant development, agronomic performance and nutritional characteristics of maize hybrids at high latitudes. Further studies on marginal sites are recommended to enlighten the understanding of interaction between environmental and genetic factors on the performance of forage maize.

Keywords

Crop heat units; days after sowing; dry matter; maize silage; maturity; neutral detergent fibre; starch; yield; Zea mays L.

Published in

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil and Plant Science
2012, Volume: 62, number: 5, pages: 420-430
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

SLU Authors

• Mussadiq, Zohaib

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hetta, Mårten

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Swensson, Christian

  • Department of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry [LBT], Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Gustavsson, Anne-Maj

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2011.639795

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/42258