How increasing seed density can give higher energy yield

摘要

Despite what may be thought, seed rates do have an effect on the yield of forage maize and surprisingly on maturity dates. Ann Hardy reports. Farmers who reduce seed rates when drilling maize are misguided if they believe it will make no difference tothe crop's final yield, according to Masstock's forage business manager Brendan Paul. "Most people will tell you they can't see the difference," he says. "But for every 1,000 plants not sown, they are losing around 80-100kg of dry matter, which is worthup to 8. "At a cost of around 1 for 1,000 seeds, it's clear that an 8:1 financial payback is well worthwhile." He suggests several reasons for the sub-optimal seed rate generally used. First there's the desire to cut input costs; then there's a generalunwillingness amongst contractors to change; but above all, there's the widespread myth that the less densely seeded crop in which the plants look bigger will be earlier to mature.