Agronomic factors affecting the yield and quality of forage maize in Ireland: effect of sowing date and plastic film treatment

The objectives of these studies were to examine the effects of sowing date and plastic film on the yield and quality of forage maize (Zea mays L.) in Ireland, a marginal maize-growing area. In 1989-95, comparisons were made of maize sown through clear plastic film (PP treatment), and maize sown in the conventional manner without plastic (NP treatment), in terms of dry-matter (DM) yield and quality (cob, grain and starch contents). The PP treatment significantly increased DM yields in five years, with a mean yield increase of 3.10 t ha(-1) . Whole-plant DM content increased (significant in four years) by a mean of 0.15; cob content increased (significant in five years) by a mean of 0.32; grain content increased (significant in all of the three years examined) by 0.75; and starch content increased from 236 to 318 g kg(-1) DM (P < 0.01) in 1995 where the plastic film treatment was used. Organic matter digestibility values were similar for both treatments in 1995. Sowing date in the April-May period had no consistent effect on DM yields, but early sowings did increase cob (significant, except in 1994), grain (significant in one (1995) of the two years tested) and starch (P < 0.05) contents (only tested in 1995). Sowing on 11 April 1995 through perforated plastic gave lower yields than the NP treatment sown on the same date, due to severe frost damage in early May.