Adaptation of Corn for Whole-Plant Silage in Canada

Major, D. J.; Hamilton, R. I.

doi:10.4141/cjps78-099

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…These strategies have been followed successfully in other marginal climates. In Canada, for example, maize production for both silage and grain has expanded progressively into shorter-season areas (Major & Hamilton 1978;White 1978). This paper reports on aproject that was conducted to estimate maize grain and silage production potential in Canterbury, to determine the effects of season, sowing date, and cultivar maturity on the yield potential, to quantify the climatic risk of growing the crop in the region, and to identify locations with acceptable levels of risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maize production potential and climatic risk in the South Island of New Zealand

Wilson¹,

Johnstone²,

Salinger³

1994

New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science

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Maize production is expanding in the South Island of New Zealand even though the climate is cool and variable, and marginal for reliable production of the crop. Its productivity in the region was assessed in field experiments conducted at Lincoln, Canterbury, during three contrasting seasons-two warmer and one cooler than average for the region. Three cultivars with different maturity characteristics were sown on several dates in each season. Even though the deviations from the longterm mean seasonal temperature (14.5°C) were quite small (-0.6 to +0.7°C) they had large effects on crop development and yield. Silage and grain yields were high (means 18.9 and 9.1 t/ha respectively) for all sowing dates of all cultivars in the warmest season, indicating good production potential in favourable years. However, in the other two seasons, yields were reduced in treatments that were sown late or where late-maturing cultivars were used. In the coolest season, some crops failed to start grain growth before the first autumn frost; their yields were low and they produced poor quality silage. The climatic risk of growing maize in the region was quantified by analysing historical temperature records from eight locations together with a simple thermal-time phenology model. Probabilities of failure to reach maturity were calculated for combinations of five cultivar maturities and four sowing dates spanning the ranges likely to be used in the region. The analysis confirmed that reliable maize silage or grain production is marginal because of variability in temperature and frost occurrence among seasons and the sensitivity of crop development rate to temperature. Crop failures are likely in cool seasons or when early autumn frosts occur, especially with late sowing or when late-maturing cultivars are used. Locations differed in their suitability for maize production. Areas in the north (represented by Riwaka and Blenheim) were the least risky, and were the only places where both grain and silage production appear to be viable. At lower altitude, coastal locations in central Canterbury (Rangiora and Lincoln), levels of risk were acceptable for silage crops, but the area was beyond the climatic limit for reliable grain production. Although some crops completed grain growth, they probably would not have reached an ear moisture content low enough for commercial machine harvesting of grain. Higher altitude, inland locations and areas further south were not suitable for reliable silage production because crops often failed to complete grain growth, even when earlymaturing cultivars were sown early.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maize production potential and climatic risk in the South Island of New Zealand

Wilson¹,

Johnstone²,

Salinger³

1994

New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science

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“…Les (Major and Hamilton 1978). White (1978) shcwed a close relationship between seedling emergence and soil temperature.…”

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confidence: 95%

Emergence and Seedling Growth of Inbred Lines of Corn at Suboptimal Root-Zone Temperatures

Menkir¹,

Larter²

1987

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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“…However, their comments primarily referred to corn silage containing more than 257o dry matter and touched only briefly on the characteristics of high moisture silage described by White (1978) as being typical of corn silage produced in the marginal corn growing areas of Canada. Recent Canadian reviews (Major and Hamilton 1978;White 1978) have described the agronomic problems associated with selecting hybrids for extending the area in which corn can be grown successfully as either grain or silage for livestock feeding.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing the Utilization by Ruminants of Corn Silage in Marginal Growing Areas

Fisher¹,

Fairey²

1979

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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The effects of various factors which influence the utilization of silage, made from forage corn grown in marginal areas for production, by ruminant animals are reviewed, with particular reference to dairy cattle. Crop maturity and composition and their effects on important animal performance characteristics are discussed in detail. Effects of the dry matter and grain contents of the ensiled corn on the nature of silage and the resulting animal responses are also considered. The declining emphasis on assessing the quality of forage corn by its grain content, and the increased emphasis on the selection of hybrids based on shoot dry matter yields are discussed from both crop and animal production viewpoints. For instance, the results of feeding trials where high crop densities, various genetic mutants and tillering hybrids were studied are discussed. Consideration is given to the laboratory evaluation and use of various agronomic characteristics to assess the nutritive value of forage corn. It is concluded that more emphasis should be placed on the breeding of corn genotypes specifically for forage production by selecting for maximum digestible dry matter yields per unit land area, particularly when dry matter content is unlikely to exceed 25%. Evaluation of the forage potential of corn genotypes should be conducted under systems of management specifically suited to maximizing whole-crop, dry matter yields. Also, with the utilization of mutant types of corn with higher digestibilities than normal corn genotypes, routine laboratory analysis for digestibility will become necessary. The final comparison of promising genotypes will need to be done with animals capable of relatively high levels of production.

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Adaptation of Corn for Whole-Plant Silage in Canada

Cited by 11 publications

References 10 publications

Maize production potential and climatic risk in the South Island of New Zealand

Maize production potential and climatic risk in the South Island of New Zealand

Emergence and Seedling Growth of Inbred Lines of Corn at Suboptimal Root-Zone Temperatures

Factors Influencing the Utilization by Ruminants of Corn Silage in Marginal Growing Areas

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