PRODUCTIVITY OF NEW MAIZE HYBRIDS IN CONDITIONS OF THE URALS

Abstract

The research aimed to identify the most productive hybrids selected by the All-Russian Research Institute of Maize to cultivate by the cereal seed technology in the natural conditions of the Middle Cis- Urals. Methodology. Maize was cultivated for seeds and green fodder for farm animals in the conditions of the Middle Cis-Urals. The maize green mass, consisting mainly of stems and leaves, usually contains up to 88-90% water. Silage being prepared for it has less dry matter and protein. Such fodder has low nutritional value and poor return from livestock products. The most high quality and nutritious feed can be received from maize seeds or its above-ground mass with seeds of milky-wax and wax ripeness. To select early-maturing hybrids with high nutritional value is the primary concern for the studied area. Results. The results demonstrate that the productivity of maize hybrids ranges from 2.50 to 6.76 t/ha depending on soil and climatic conditions. When maize hybrids are grown by seed technology, the above-ground mass of the studied crops is 30.68-68.80 t/ha. Conclusions. It is necessary to select earlier ripening and highly productive hybrids to increase the quality and nutrition of corn feed. The recommended hybrids for grain production are Ural 150 (5,45 t/ha), Baikal (5,38 t/ha) and Mashuk 170 MV (4,98 t/ha); K-170 (56,7 t/ha), Shihan (55,67 t/ha) and Mashuk 170 MV (54,99 t/ha) that provided a higher output of the green mass at milky-wax ripeness of grain are best for silage production. The resulting data make it possible to select maize hybrids with high yields and nutritional value for farms with similar soil and climate conditions and to develop diets for highly productive dairy and beef cattle.