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SEEDS & agricultural MACHINERY - with expertise and services for successful crop management


 

Maize crop

 

WHAT WE SELL

Seeds

Agricultural machinery

Expertise & services for
successful crop
management

 

 

 
 


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 Our selection of maize varieties adapted to
   arid conditions

Based on our perfect knowledge of growing conditions in arid and semi-arid areas and on different field trials conducted over the years, we have selected varieties which are perfectly adapted to the technical and economical needs of farmers:

for grain production, the choice of a variety relies on a balance between water requirements (related to yield potential) and water availability (see below). We recommend the use of:

  • medium-late varieties Panama and Odeon (also suitable for silage production),
  • late variety Net,
  • very late varieties Nikaïa and Giubileo which are also both suitable for forage production

for silage production, above from water considerations, forage quality should also be a choice factor. If dairy production is important, we can supply productive varieties with outstanding feeding values, such as:

  • medium-late variety Odeon,
  • very late varieties Nikaïa and Giubileo,
  • Calcio or Newport which are both very very late varieties.

These varieties have all reached excellent results, especially in Saudi Arabia.

 Key points for variety choice in arid and semi-arid areas

During the last 50 years, the progress made in corn productivity has been absolutely amazing, far more important than for any other plant. Today, the yield potential of each variety is not even comparable to that obtained 20 years ago mainly because of genetical progress (Barrière, 2001). Over the same period of time water efficiency has not been increased. Consequently, productivity improvements have led to higher water requirements (around 50% according to different research papers).

In arid areas temperature and sunshine conditions could allow the production of varieties with very high yield potential (late maturity - for grain production); but the necessary water resource may not be available or proved too expensive and the potential yield may never be reached. The choice of a variety then relies on a balance between water requirements (related to yield potential) and water availability.
      

Useful links

 Maïsadour Semences
Dairyland Seed

A plant with an outstanding water use efficiency
The corn plant (Zea mays) has a C4 type photosynthesis. This means that the first glucide formed has four carbon atoms. As for all C4 type plants, corn has a higher photosynthesis effectiveness and water efficiency than C3 type plants. In non limiting growing conditions (water, nutrients, light), maize or sorghum produces 40 kg of DM/mm/ha whereas wheat or ray-grass only produces 25 kg DM/mm/ha and alfalfa 20 kg DM/mm/ha (Barrière, 2001). On other terms, grain maize and forage maize need less water to produce as much biomass as alfalfa or wheat (in non limiting conditions) because they have an excellent physiological water use efficiency.

A plant with a poor resistance to drought
But when a stress occurs, maize looses this outstanding efficiency because of a weak root system (compared to other C4 plants such as sorghum). If the physiological water use efficiency remains the same, the global water use efficiency under water stress drops down.

 

© ICS 2002 - 2008
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Document created : june 2002 - updated : mars 28, 2008

Publication director : Jean-François MARTIN - ICS - 61 rue de la Coppinerie - 17220 Bourgneuf - France

 

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