However, the crops may have to be managed differently than in the North Island to improve yields.
Their future management will be revealed by maize senior researcher David Densley and researcher Owen Gibson at the Foundation for Arable Research’s CROPS 2022 field day at its Chertsey site near Ashburton today.
Climate modelling shows warming temperatures will allow maize to be grown in previously marginal areas for producing economic crops. Maize silage demand from the dairy sector is also increasing to back up pasture-based systems both nutritionally and economically.
FAR says for maize silage to compete with imported palm kernel expeller (PKE) as a suitable pasture supplement for South Island dairy farmers, economic yields and consistent forage quality are required.
Mr Densley said maize growing was historically based on long-established production systems for major growing regions in the North Island.
"However, using the traditional row width and population density optimised for these growing regions may not maximise maize productivity and forage quality for South Island farmers."
Year one results will be revealed at the field day with a review of agronomic practices that can help lift maize yields in the South Island.
Over the past year a large-scale irrigated trial at Chertsey shows Pioneer hybrid 8666 (CRM 86) was planted on October 28, and harvested on April 8, 162 days after planting. Row spacings were either the industry standard or 38cm, and populations were between 95,000 and 120,000 plants per hectare.
The trial produced an average yield of 32 tonnes of dry matter/hectare of whole plant crop silage.
Narrow row spacing tended towards forage yields averaging an extra two tonne DM/ha when compared with the industry standard, especially when an 86 CRM maize hybrid was planted at a density of 105,000-115,000 seeds/ha.
This season, a small plot trial has been planted at Chertsey to further investigate any interaction between row spacing and population.
