Optimal Maize Ripeness by Application of Dynamic Ripening and Analysis (DRA) System

Abstract

The superiority of the dynamic ripening and analysis (DRA) system based on a filter for all directions of use compared to the currently valid ripening system with the usage-specific ripening figures separated into silage and grain maize in Germany is demonstrated in a system-biological way. The silage maize ripeness index (SRI) as the sole indicator for the fixation of the harvest time, the evidence of biotic and abiotic plant stress as well as the selection of environmentally and ripeness-stable maize varieties for all directions of use is multifunctional direction and filter. The grower can make crop decisions in the near-harvest period for planning the processes and carrying out the harvest to be optimized. The reference ripeness point (SRI of 2.8) enables the full exploitation of the phenotypic performance and resistance potential in maize cultivation by standardizing the ecophysiological optimal maize ripeness of genotype and phenotype and, in the long term, through the risk assessment of climatic changes. The social acceptance of maize cultivation can be significantly increased through the better economic and ecological aspects of the DRA system.