Harvest preview
How under-sowing maize paves way for better harvest performance
M
aize growers can look for- ward to better harvest performance by using un-
der-sowing techniques to establish the crop, says Suffolk grass special- ists Barenbrug. Trialled last year, the company’s Proterra Maize – based on Barenbrug’s tall fescue technology – offers a quick and easy solution for establishing under-sown cover in maize, while ad- dressing growers’ worries about com- petition from the main crop. “Issues with soil erosion and nutri-
ent leaching, coupled with damage to the soil structure at harvest and the knock-on effects on soil health, have spurred considerable interest in un- der-sowing maize,” says Barenbrug maize specialist Roger Bacon. “Some water companies have even introduced their own incentives or sub- sidies to reduce run-off in water-catch- ment areas,” says Mr Bacon. Green manures or cover crops may soon be- come mandatory practice in maize cul- tivation, he adds.
Deep roots
Specially developed as a green cover crop for maize, Proterra Maize has an extremely deep-branched rooting sys-
In summary: Proterra Maize •
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Under-sown fescue grass is clearly visible when maize is harvested
tem. This maintains soil structure and health post-harvest, reducing soil ero- sion and nutrient leaching. Deep roots also soak up nutrients
from a far greater volume of soil – and allows carbon to be sequestered much deeper within the soil profile. Carbon sequestered in the top 20cm of the soil is much less stable than carbon at greater depths, says Mr Bacon. Some growers have been reluctant to adopt under-sown techniques when growing maize. They cite concerns that a fast-growing cover crop could rob the main crop of critical sunlight, moisture and minerals.
“In selecting and developing this Maize-specific cover crop mixture
Based on Barenbrug’s tall fescue technology Sowing rate of 10kg/ha
Drill when maize is at 6-8 leaves • Use inter-row drill
variety, we’ve opted for traits that fa- vour rapid germination but far slow- er growth post-emergence. This gives it time to develop its deep, robust root system, while presenting little compe- tition for the maize.” Deep and intensively branched roots also endow the soil with a high-
er bearing capacity, allowing growers improved confidence to harvest when the crop is ripe – without the worry of structural damage, either to the soil or the cover crop itself.
Higher levels of soil biomass ensure a more fertile soil too – improving the performance of subsequent crops. Fur- ther research will examine the perfor- mance differences between different blends of Proterra Maize, and their po- tential applications.
“What we’ve seen so far is that per- formance is variety specific,” says Mr Bacon. “This confirms anecdotal evi- dence from early adopters, indicating that it’s not just a matter of buying any tall fescue, as not all work. “With Proterra Maize, we’re trying to help growers have more confidence in the practice of under-sowing, allow- ing them to realise some or all of its valuable benefits on their farms with a product that’s designed for the task at hand.”
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