Screening of Suitable Maize Varieties under the Interplanting Pattern of Flue-cured Tobacco and Silage Corn in the Central Yunnan Plateau

Purpose To screen suitable silage corn varieties for the interplanting pattern of flue-cured tobacco and silage corn in the subtropical climate zone of the Central Yunnan Plateau.

Methods The agronomic traits, nutritional quality, and production performance of eight corn varieties under the interplanting pattern of flue-cured tobacco and silage corn were measured and analyzed, and a comprehensive evaluation was conducted using the fuzzy membership function method.

Results Under the intercropping system of flue-cured tobacco and silage maize, significant agronomic trait variations were observed among the eight varieties. Regarding a single index, the plant height of Shuiquanyu No. 6 (206.15 cm) was the highest; the leaves number of Wenqingzhu No. 2 (11.78) was the largest; the hay yield of Quchen No. 49 (8.99 t/hm²) was the highest, along with the highest leaf weight, ear weight, dry matter content, and water-soluble carbohydrate content, while possessing the lowest neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents; the crude protein content of Quchen No. 9 was significantly higher than other varieties. Comprehensive evaluation results showed that the average membership function values of the eight maize varieties ranked as follows: Quchen No. 49>Shuiquanyu No. 6>Quchen No. 9>Shengyu No. 2>Hongdan No. 10>Wenqingzhu No. 2>Datian 397>Dika 653.

Conclusion Under the flue-cured tobacco and silage maize intercropping system in central Yunnan, the fresh forage and hay yields of eight maize varieties ranged from 26.30 to 34.52 t/hm² and from 5.52 to 8.99 t/hm², respectively. Based on a comprehensive performance of yield, agronomic traits, and nutritional quality, Quchen No. 49 can be recommended as the main maize variety for the tobacco-maize - silage corn intercropping pattern in the subtropical climate zone of the Central Yunnan Plateau.