Increasing Yield of Forage Corn

Forage corn is cut and chopped by forage harvesters and then promptly ensiled in a clamp under anaerobic conditions. This leads to fermentation that improves the quality and feeding potential of the silage.

The best corn silage has a high dry matter content, a high starch content and a good starchdigestibility.

Although forage corn yield is influenced by the same nutrients as grain corn, the difference in nutrient removal between the two types needs to be considered when planning the nutrition program of forage corn crops. 

Crop Nutrition and Yield of Forage Corn

Nitrogen

Use of nitrogen is important to build and maintain green leaf, maximizing photosynthetic assimilation and corn crop yields.

Potassium

Forage crops grown for silage remove significantly higher amounts of potassium than grain corn. K is needed to support plant growth and maximize yields.

Boron

There is evidence that boron increases the yield and starch content of forage corn. Foliar applications made at the V5 or V6 stage, when there is significant leaf cover, will improve forage corn yields in deficient crops. 

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