NIAB - National Institute of Agricultural Botany
Free Dry Matter range predictor for forage maize
Choosing the right target DM% for your farm
The following procedure is designed to identify an initial target DM% for you to consider. Once that target DM% is identified consider varieties within 2% either side being within 5 days either side of your selected harvest date e.g. Your target DM% is 35 then consider a range between 33-37 which represents a ten day window.
Identifying the correct DM% range:
a. In Table A select the conditions which apply to your proposed crop and enter the DM% score in the end column.
b. Select the regional score from Table B and insert them in Table A and add up to total.
c.Once the target DM% range has been identified refer to which list do I use below tables.
Remember that planning for a late harvest date so that you can use higher yielding, lower dry matter varieties, and works in an average season but leaves you less leeway in a bad one.
Table A
|
Harvest date |
15-22 Sept |
23-30Sept |
1-7Oct |
8-15 Oct |
SCORE |
|
DM% |
6 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
Sowing date |
15-22 April |
23-30April |
1-7May |
7-15 May |
|
|
DM% |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Altitude |
0-50m |
50-100m |
100-150m |
+150m |
|
|
DM% |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Soil Type |
Light |
Medium |
Heavy |
Very Heavy |
|
|
DM% |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Rain Fall |
Low (10”-27”) |
Medium (28”-39”) |
High (40”+) |
|
|
|
DM% |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regional score |
From table B |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
Table B Allocating points for your region
|
Regional area |
Dry Matter score |
|
Scotland and Northumberland |
32 |
|
Northern England (Borders to Nottinghamshire) |
30 |
|
North Midland (Nottinghamshire to Hertfordshire) |
28 |
|
North and Mid Wales |
30 |
|
South Midlands, East Anglia and Welsh borders |
26 |
|
South Wales |
28 |
|
South East and Southern Counties |
24 |
|
Somerset and Dorset |
26 |
|
North Devon and Cornwall |
30 |
|
South Devon |
28 |
Which Variety List do I use?
Favourable DL applies to regions with a rating of 28 or less in Table B. In these conditions, later maturing varieties may be favoured.
Less Favourable DL applies to regions with a rating of more than 28 in Table B and at other sites where the altitude or other previously mentioned factors necessitate an early maturing variety.