Productivity of Early Maturity Silage Corns during Continuous Monocropping

Abstract

This study evaluated the productivity of early maturity silage corns during continuous monocropping and the possibility of expanding forage production. Continuous monocropping of three silage corns, such as Kwangpyeongok (medium maturity), Sinhwangok (early maturity), and Sinhwangok2 (early maturity) was planted twice, in April and July from 2018 to 2019 at Suwon. The number of days from the sowing date to the silking date was 78 for the preceding crop and 52 for the succeeding crop. The number of days from the silking date to the harvesting date was 26 for the preceding crop and 46 for the succeeding crop. The sums of the temperature from the sowing date to the silking date were 1,512°C for the preceding crop, 1,246°C for the succeeding crop. The sums of the temperature from the sowing date to the harvesting date were 2,198°C for the preceding crop and 1,951°C for the succeeding crop. The dry matter yield of the preceding crop (1,637 kg/10a) was similar to that of the succeeding crop (1,565 kg/10a). The dry matter yields of Sinhwangok2 (1,673 kg/10a), Sinhwangok (1,660 kg/10a) and Kwangpyeongok (1,579 kg/10a) were similar to those of the preceding crop. The dry matter yields of Sinhwangok (1,669 kg/10a) and Kwangpyeongok (1,651 kg/10a) were similar to those of the succeeding crop and Sinhwangok2 (1,374 kg/10a) was the lowest among the three corn varieties. The total digestible nutrients (TDN) yield of the preceding crop (1,135 kg/10a) was similar to that of the succeeding crop (1,037 kg/10a). The TDN yields of Sinhwangok2 (1,183 kg/10a), Sinhwangok (1,158 kg/10a), and Kwangpyeongok (1,063 kg/10a) were similar to those of the preceding crop. The TDN yields of Sinhwangok (1,150 kg/10a) and Kwangpyeongok (1,100 kg/10a) were similar for the succeeding crop and Sinhwangok2 (970 kg/10a) was the lowest among the three corn varieties. The total dry matter yields of Sinhwangok (3,329 kg/10a) and Kwangpyeongok (3,230 kg/10a) were similar, but Sinhwangok2 (3,047 kg/10a) was the lowest among the three corn varieties. The total TDN yields of Sinhwangok (2,307 kg/10a), Kwangpyeongok (2,162 kg/10a), and Sinhwangok2 (2,152 kg/10a) were similar. It was concluded that Sinhwangok and Sinhwangok2 have high TDN yields as well as early maturity, and therefore are advantageous for direct continuous monocropping.