Trials test new approaches to growing maize in tough season
Drone application of late foliar nitrogen, placement fertiliser benefits and a new starch-based film were just some of the talking points at the recent Hutchinsons Carlisle maize trials open day. The annual event, hosted by the Fisher family, at Smalmstown Farm on 10 September, once again attracted maize growers from across the northwest, keen to hear about the latest developments in maize agronomy, and see how varieties performed in another challenging growing season. Compared with much of the country, maize has generally fared well in this region, and after some much-needed rain in late August, Hutchinsons agronomist, Jim Clark was confident that crops should produce good dry matter and starch, with reasonable yields, although perhaps not quite as high as last year. “While maize likes the heat, it’s not infallible to running out of moisture, especially on lighter land,” he said. “We’ve seen where growers pushed drilling slightly later into May, perhaps to get a cut of grass in first, crops put a lot of energy into growing, but cob sizes generally don’t seem as big as in crops that were sown earlier (typically 15-20 April) and had more time to get their roots down.”
Some 20+ varieties from six seed houses were trialled at the Carlisle site this year, drilled on 28 April, in the open and under film. “Apart from perhaps one variety, you wouldn’t be disappointed with any of them given the season,” Mr Clark said. “A few appear to have withstood the conditions better than others, including P7326, P68106, LG Highlight, and a couple from Bayer, but the real proof will come once we get to harvest.”
Strong rooting is fundamental to improving the resilience of all crops, and the 2026 trials again showed clear benefits from using placement fertiliser with seed at drilling, by stimulating early root development and improving the scavenging ability for water and nutrients throughout the season. Two microgranular products (Primary-P and PrimeStart) were compared in two varieties grown under film, while the team also looked at the impact of Primary-P in open ground crops. “You could clearly see physical differences between all of the ‘with’ and ‘without’ plots, which was supported by assessments earlier in the season, which showed crops that received placement fertiliser had double the root mass within the first four weeks, compared with those that didn’t receive anything.”
Given the relatively high price of conventional Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser, there were clear financial, as well as agronomic benefits from using smaller amounts of a more targeted product, Mr Clark noted. Another big talking point was a trial of three types of film, including a standard grey film, a new coded product under development, and a film made from maize and wheat starch. Mr Clark said the starch-based film generated particular interest, given how good crops looked in those plots. “They were noticeably greener and about a foot taller than the others, so it’ll be interesting to see if that’s reflected in final yields. “The film lasts around five weeks, and when it degrades, it does so really quickly, typically within five days, allowing growers to get straight on with a post-emergence herbicide where necessary. If we know the post-em can be applied promptly, perhaps it will allow for savings on the pre-em residual, which can be one of the biggest inputs in maize.
“The starch-based film really suited the warm conditions this season, but in a colder spring, you might want a film that lasts a bit longer, so it’s something we’ll look at again next season.”
He acknowledged the film was more expensive than other types, but said that could be offset by potential herbicide savings, and not needing to go through the crop to split the film, as well as any yield or dry matter benefits.
Following successful trials with drone-based grass seeding into standing maize last season, aerial applications were taken a step further this year, with drone-based application of late foliar fertiliser.
All plots received 20 litres/ha of a protected foliar urea product (N-Durance), applied just after tasseling. “With a standard machine, we’d normally have to go on pre-tasseling to avoid causing too much crop damage, but the drone lets us treat the crop later, which should help keep it greener for longer and help plants continue building biomass later into the season.
“We haven’t seen any significant differences between treated and untreated plots yet, but differences often don’t show up until crops start to senesce, so it’s something we’ll keep monitoring and see if there is any benefit in terms of final yield.”
Mr Clark noted that the drone was also used to undersow grass into the maize plots again this year, but the dry summer had led to delayed germination and establishment.
[Box] Carlisle maize trials summary:
Hosted by the Fisher family at Smalmstown Farm (dairy farm) Soil is predominantly sandy clay loam Fertile soils, pH 6.6 Maize plots were ploughed, power harrowed, and drilled on 28 April All plots sown at 42,000 seeds/acre Trial plots received pre-emergence dimethenamid-P + pendimethalin Post-em mesotrione, plus dicamba, nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron [Ends]
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Source: press release issued by Siafu.