Precision drilling maize in two staggered rows results in a higher maize yield and quality according to research at the University of Osnabrück in Germany.
Conducted on a large-scale trial plot last spring, yield and quality were measured for three different sowing rates; seven, eight and nine seeds/m² (70,000, 80,000 and 90,000 seeds/ha) using the staggered twin-row DeltaRow technique on the Lemken Azurit 9.
Compared to single-row systems, positive effects were recorded with all, but were highest at a rate of eight seeds/m² when maize yields increased by 4.5%. The staggered two-row technique also has a beneficial effect on maize silage quality, with a 7.9% increase in metabolizable energy and 5.4% increase in biogas production.
Lemken reckons these yield and quality advantages are due to plants having roughly 70% more room to grow with improved access to moisture and nutrients.
