Abstract

Twelve, commercial, corn hybrids were grown under irrigated conditions in 1990 and evaluated for agronomic and silage characteristics at three stages of maturities (1/2 milk line, black layer, and 7 days post-black layer). Time to mid-anthesis and mid-silk ranged from 62 to 68 and 65 to 70 days, respectively, and plant height ranged from 78 to 98 inches. Whole-plant dry matter (DM) content and whole-plant DM and grain yields for the 12 hybrids ranged from 23.6 to 53.7 %, 6.1 to 9.6 tons of DM per acre, and 60 to 170 bushels per acre, respectively, over the three maturities. Whole-plant DM content and grain yield increased (P<.001) with advancing maturity, whereas whole-plant DM yield peaked at the second maturity. These initial results indicate that hybrid and stage of maturity affect the agronomic characteristics of corn grown for silage.

Keywords: Cattlemen's Day, 1991, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution, no. 91-355-S, Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service), 623, Beef, Corn, Hybrid, Maturity, Silage

How to Cite:

Suazo, R., Sonon, R., Pfaff, L., Dickerson, J. & Bolsen, K., (1991) “Effects of hybrid and maturity at harvest on agronomic performance of corn for silage”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 1(1), 63-65. doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.2216