SUCCESSFUL MAIZE PRODUCTION UNDER IRRIGATION

Klaas van Wyk, Agronomist, Pannar Seed, Northern Cape

Maize production under irrigation plays a major role in the stability of South Africa’s national maize crop to ensure food security. The area of maize under irrigation amounts to approximately 10% of the total maize planting and is in the region of 250 000 hectares annually. It is estimated to contribute more than 2.5 million tonnes to the national harvest annually. Maize production under irrigation plays an especially important role in the years when South Africa experiences a drought.

Production under irrigation requires careful planning, preparation and management as profitable production is under tremendous pressure. Every link in the chain is important for success. Hybrid selection and the establishment of an optimal plant population create the foundation for success. Pannar’s ultra early maize package delivers top performance when best management practices are applied and maintains an excellent track record under irrigation. Please consult your Pannar agronomist or representative for the best placement of hybrids.

The foundation for a high-potential grain yield is laid by planting the seed accurately. The goal is to space plants uniformly in the row, plant the seed uniformly at the same depth and ensure that the seed is in good contact with soil moisture. It is essential that seedlings emerge evenly, so that optimal production is obtained from each plant. This is achieved by an even seed bed, optimal soil temperatures and a slow planting speed to ensure good spacing of seeds within the row and even germination.

PAN 3A-124, PAN 3R-524R, PAN 3R-724BR PAN 3P-924PW and PAN 3R-224YHR:
These ultra early yellow hybrids are the quickest platform in Pannar’s range. They produce attractive yellow grain that dries down quickly. The package maintains excellent high yield potential and stability over seasons. It is the best irrigation choice currently on the market. This platform is also well adapted and an excellent choice for the high-potential dryland production areas. Where lower plant populations are planted and good production conditions are encountered, these hybrids can compensate well by producing a larger yield.

This season the new hybrid PAN 3P-924PW with PowerCore™ technology will be introduced. It is based on the genetic background of PAN 3R-724BR. PowerCore™ technology is an insect-resistant seed trait that effectively protects maize against destructive above-ground lepidopteran pests such as the African Maize Borer (Busseola fusca) and Spotted Maize Stem Borer (Chilo partellus). These pests can cause significant crop damage and subsequent production losses. PowerCore™ technology consists of three different Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins, each of which targets the insects differently, which greatly contributes to extending the life of the technology. PowerCore™ technology also confers herbicide resistance to glyphosate herbicides.

PAN 3R-224YHR is a top performing stacked gene hybrid that contains Intrasect^® insect protection as well as Roundup Ready^® Maize 2 technology that provides tolerance to glyphosate herbicide.

PAN 3R-500R and PAN 3P-900PW:
PAN 3P-900PW with PowerCore™ technology is based on PAN 3R-500R genetics. The PowerCore™ technology consists of three different Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins, each of which targets the insects differently, which greatly contributes to extending the life of the technology. PowerCore™ technology also confers herbicide tolerance to glyphosate herbicides. These hybrids are widely adapted and particularly suitable for early planting dates under irrigation and under high-potential dryland conditions. These hybrids have an attractive plant type with good standability and ear placement. They produce a good quality semi-flint grain type and show good tolerance to Northern Corn Leaf Blight.

PAN 4A-128, PAN 4R-528R, PAN 4R-728BR and PAN 4P-928PW:
This early yellow hybrid platform performs well under high-input irrigation in the Orange- Fish River and Northern Cape irrigation areas. These hybrids have very good yield potential and stability. They complement the ultra early 3-series hybrid package very well and are a good choice for earlier planting dates to broaden the hybrid package under irrigation. These hybrids offer good agronomic balance, good standability and tend to bear their cobs low on the stalk.

This season the new hybrid PAN 4P-928PW with PowerCore™ technology will be introduced. It is based on the genetic background of PAN 4R-728BR. PowerCore™ technology is an insect-resistant seed trait that effectively protects maize against destructive above-ground lepidopteran pests such as the African Maize Borer (Busseola fusca) and Spotted Maize Stem Borer (Chilo partellus).

PAN 3A-173 and PAN 3R-573R:
These ultra early white hybrids have a typical ultra early plant type with an upright leaf growth habit and good standability. They are well adapted to high plant populations with good general disease tolerance and produce good grain quality. These hybrids tend to be prolific and produce a high ratio of grain to stover. These two hybrids are an excellent choice under irrigation and for the high-potential eastern dryland production areas.

Successful crop production under irrigation requires good management and ideally crop production should take place without any stress from emergence to physiological maturity. Because input costs are high, it is important to avoid management errors wherever possible. For the best results, be personally involved and for first class results it is important to pay attention to the fine details!

Reduce volatility in productivity and profitability on your farm by choosing these stable performers. Add to this the agronomic knowledge and insight of Pannar’s team, and you can plant Pannar’s cultivars with confidence knowing that you will reap the maximum yield on every bag.

Spacing plants evenly in the row, planting seed equally deep and ensuring good contact with soil moisture is essential for seedlings to emerge evenly. This ensures optimal production of each plant and forms the foundation of success.

The new high-performing hybrids PAN 3P-924PW, PAN 3P-900PW and PAN 4P-928PW feature the new PowerCore™ technology, an insect-resistant seed trait that effectively protects maize against destructive above-ground lepidopteran pests and also confers herbicide tolerance to glyphosate herbicides.

For more information, please contact your Pannar sales representative or agronomist or visit www.pannar.com.