Evaluation of Silage Maize Varieties and Their Suitable Harvesting Period

Purpose To select suitable silage maize varieties and harvesting periods for cultivation in Kunming, laying the foundation for the sustainable development of animal husbandry.

Methods The adaptability test of 13 silage maize varieties was carried out in Kunming. The biological yield and silage quality of each variety were measured from 10 to 60 days after pollination. The adaptability and optimal harvesting time of each variety were evaluated by the membership function method.

Results The fresh grass yield of 13 silage maize varieties showed an overall trend of first increasing then decreasing with harvested from 10 to 60 days after pollination. The highest yield was obtained when the crop was harvested 20 or 30 days after pollination, and the quality reached the standards for silage maize. Five varieties such as Qiaodan No.6 had higher yield and quality of fresh grass in harvested 30 days after pollination, and eight varieties such as Quchen No.9 had higher yield and better quality of fresh grass when harvested 20 days after pollination. The 13 silage maize varieties had fresh grass yields ranging from 49.26 to 172.52 t/hm². Among them, the yield of Qiaodan No.6 was the highest, which was harvested in optimal harvest time (30 days after pollination), and the silage quality reached grade 2. Fresh grass yield of Zhenhe 68 was the second highest, and silage quality also reached grade 2. The membership function analysis results showd Qiaodan No.6 ranked the first, followed by Yu silage 23, Gui silage No.5, Zhenhe 68, Denghai silage 3206, Dajingjiu 26 and so on.

Conclusion Qiaodan No.6 has the best adaptability in Kunming, with the highest yield and better silage quality of fresh grass when harvested 30 days after pollination, reaching grade 2. It is followed by Yu silage 23, Gui silage No.5, Zhenhe 68, Denghai silage 3206, Dajingjiu 26, and other varieties, which are best harvested 20 to 30 days after pollination.