| YIELD |
|
Dry Matter Yield % NIAB Controls |
| Nescio |
106 |
| Melody |
98 |
| Fabius |
108 |
| Vernal |
102 |
|
| | Source: NIAB 2004
| OPTIMUM HARVEST DATE |
|
Nescio |
Melody |
| % Dry matter content |
30.4 |
33.0 |
| The advice from NIAB on maximising output is clear. The highest yields are produced by crops sown early which continue to grow until the beginning of October. Cutting an early variety around 10th September is likely to be some 25% lower yielding than a later variety cut around 1st October. Nescio produces dry matter contents within the accepted optimum range of 28-32% in most maize growing areas of the UK at this time of the year. |
| QUALITY |
|
ME of fresh plant (MJ/kg dry matter) |
ME/ha x 1000 (MJ/kg DM) |
| Nescio |
11.5 |
194 |
| Melody |
11.2 |
174 |
| Hudson |
11.3 |
180 |
| Fabius |
11.2 |
184 |
| Source: NIAB Descriptive List
| AGRONOMIC CHARACTERS |
|
Early vigour |
Standing power |
| Nescio |
8.8 |
8.3 |
| Melody |
8.4 |
7.6 |
| Hudson |
8.7 |
7.7 |
| Fabius |
9.0 |
7.8 |
|
|
| | Source: 2004 NIAB trials
| WHOLECROP DIGESTIBILITY |
| NESCIO |
72.7* |
| Melody |
70.7 |
| Hudson |
71.8 |
| Fabius |
70.0 |
|
Source: NIAB trials 2003 *The best trial in 2003
|