Contribution to quality and yield potential of cultivars under stress and drought conditions for silage and energy maize

Maize production trials carried out in eastern middle of Germany from 1999-2007 were used for statistical analysis of the optimum date for silage maize ripeness, quality and yield potential as well as choice of cultivar under drought conditions for silage and energy maize. The Silage maize Ripeness Index (the ratio of dry matter content of maize grains to dry matter content of stover) is more suitable for the determination of harvest date, yield maximum and silage maize quality as the dry matter content of the plant. The analysis is cheaper as well as not so material and time-consuming in comparison to the dry matter content of the silage maize of different hybrid maize populations and environments. Ensilage optimum and yield maximum correspond almost with the physiological ripeness of silage maize and are close to the grain dry matter content of 60 to 65%, to the dry matter content of stover under 24% and a ripeness index from 2,5 and higher. Only under these conditions it is possible to reach the optimal ripeness of 30 to 35% in the whole plant silage maize. In dependence on the Silage maize Ripeness Index (SRZ) parameters of silage and energy maize were created differential ripeness optimum, quality and yield potential. The aims of silage and energy maize are similar. The vitality of stover has a greater importance for energy maize. The Silage maize Ripeness Index (SRI) is, for whole plant maize, better than the Whole Plant Maize Ripeness Index (SRZ) for the choice of a hybrid in Germany. The dry matter content of grain in interaction with the dry matter of stover are better than dry matter content of the whole plant maize as ripeness indicator in the production of silage and energy maize for the harvesting time. SRI is also suitable for use as a standard in scientific trials and for better characteristic of cultivar types and environmental influence.