Maize Agronomy 2015 Teagasc UCD Maize Seminars 2015 Tim O Donovan & Dr. Richard Hackett Teagasc
Presentation Topics Maize Production Economics Decisions before sowing Nutrient management Weed management Foliar disease management Housekeeping - SUD
Maize Production Costs per hectare Fertiliser (incl. slurry/fym) NFS 2013* (n=50) Teagasc 2015 $ 342 476 Seed 202 185 Crop protection (incl. vat) 117 80 Machinery hire 464 685 Representative of 60% of Irish maize crops (plastic & open, all systems) $ Adapted from Teagasc Crop Costs & Returns 2015
Maize Production Costs Maize is expensive to grow ~ 110 / t DM Cutting corners can be expensive Attention to detail gives best chance of success
Site Ideally south facing warm field After grass can give wireworm problems -No effective control Are there scutch, thistle or dock problems If so, use pre-drilling glyphosate - in time
Plastic or open Plastic increases yield (~3 t DM/ha) and quality Effect will be greatest in bad year Plastic reduces risk
Maize nutrition Maize fertiliser costs are very high ( 476/ha Teagasc figures 2015) Critical current soil sample (< 3 years old) before drilling Nitrates directive allows 20 Kg/ha P in index 4
Teagasc soil samples 2014
Maize nutrition Maize fertiliser costs are very high ( 476/ha Teagasc figures 2015) Critical current soil sample (< 3 years old) before drilling Maize is very sensitive to lime - ideal ph for maize is 6.8-7.0 but it will grow successfully to 6.3 Trace elements - apply at the 6-8 leaf stage
The Effect of Lime on Soil P Availability Sheil et al, 2014
Requirements for 6 t/ac DM maize crop N P K 144 units/ac 32 units/ac 152 units/ac Fertiliser required will depend on - soil test results - organic manures
Fertiliser Replacement Value Manure Type Available Nutrients (units) N P K Value ( ) Pig slurry (1,000gal) 19 7 20 25/1,000gal Cattle Slurry(1,000gal) 6 5 30 24/1,000gal Broiler Manure (30% DM) 11 12 24 30/t Layer manure (55% DM) 23 11 24 35/t SMC (1 tonne) 3 5 17 13/t
Phosphorus Maize root growth slow in cold conditions Root uptake of P reduced Placing P will help overcome this issue Not as big an issue under plastic Heat increases P availability to roots P allowed on index 4 for maize
Pests Main pests rooks & slugs Leatherjackets Wireworm Cut-worms No Gaucho but can order replacement
Weeds Major effect on yield Up to 80 % reduction Rotation is key to pesticide reduction in plastic crops Timing is key to pesticide reduction in open crops
Weed control Scutch, docks, thistles glyphosate pre ploughing if possible Many maize herbicides are residual Residual products work best on fine seedbeds with some moisture after spraying. Early control is vital
Plastic crops Uncovered areas can present a difficulty for residuals particularly if Soil is cloddy Dry weather after sowing Brassicas present
Plastic crops Option 1 All at sowing Wing P/pendimethalin (PDM) + Cadou Star 0.5-0.75 kg/ha or Wing P/PDM + Calaris 1-1.5 l/ha at sowing. On newish ground, Wing P/pendimethalin (PDM) on its own may suffice. Follow up may be required (only one Calaris per season)
Plastic crops Option 2 under plastic only at sowing herbicide under plastic at sowing (eg. PDM, Wing P) overall follow up after emergence (Calaris 1-1.5 l/ha)
Open crops Main choice will be Calaris (4 6 leaf stage) at 1.0 1.5 l/ha. Pre-emergence options are less popular but worked very well in Teagasc trials. Difficult weeds such as thistle, scutch, wild oats and volunteer potatoes will need specialist herbicides such as Accent, Clopyralid, Titus or Fluroxypyr for effective follow-up control.
Foliar Disease No research in Ireland on disease effects Varietal effects seen (NIAB) Extrapolating from UK/Danish research and farmer experience Sprays are prophylactic Need long term trials Sprays need high clearance Will July spray impact in Sept/Oct?
Foliar disease in varieties (KD 2010)
Eyespot UK advice (MGA) If possible choose a field not adjacent to fields where maize was grown last year Plough ensuring all trash is buried, plough by mid February Choose resistant varieties (new score on NIAB list 2015) Apply fungicides as both a protectant at the 10 leaf stage if temperatures do not reach 28C in July or in the South west of England If August is wet and cold apply a contact eradicant at end of August Need high clearance sprayer to time correctly
Eyespot Danish advice DAS Spray in two situations: Fields with maize as preceding crop and use of non-inversion tillage Fields with >5-10 per cent affected plants assessed on 2 leaves above and below ear. Dose recommendation: 0,7 l Opera per ha @ gs 65 (tassling) One treatment mostly sufficient. If early attacks, use 2 x 0,5 l per ha Leave untreated strips in field to evaluate effect Research gave positive result in 9 out of 12 trials Currently evaluating DSS using rel. humidity and monitor crops
SUD - Professional Users Anyone who uses pesticides in the course of their professional activities knapsack, boom, etc No exemptions Appropriate sprayer course done Register by 26 th November 2015
SUD - Application Equipment All boom sprayers >3m, orchard and blast sprayers, must be tested at least once by 26 November 2016 Tested every 5 yrs up to 2020 Tested every 3 yrs after 2020 Test done by private company you make appointment
SUD - Records What you sprayed Product, rate, PCS number When you sprayed it field, date Why you sprayed it weeds expected, advisors guidence,etc IPM records One sheet per farm per year Only record what practise is on farm
Thank You