Different precocity corn hybrids reaction to sowing time in the Middle Urals

The purpose of the study is to substantiate the optimal timing of sowing corn in the conditions of the Middle Urals. At the Ural Research Institute of Agriculture, the reaction of three corn hybrids with different early maturity to the sowing dates was studied. Sowing was carried out on May 5-9 and May 25. Observations and records were carried out according to the accepted methods of the All-Russian Research Institute of Maize. The results of the study showed that in the conditions of the forest-meadow zone of the Middle Urals, the transfer of the sowing date to the beginning of May leads to an advance in the flowering phase of the cob by 16 days, and the milky ripeness of grain by 15 days relative to sowing at the end of May. This provides additional resources of heat and time for full filling of grain. A stable effect of sowing time on the yield of dry matter was not found. Grain yield, on the contrary, was significantly higher when sown in early May. The maximum grain productivity was noted in the early maturing hybrid Kubansky 102 MB (4.03 t/ha). A positive effect of the early sowing period on the share of grain in the dry matter of all three hybrids and a decrease in the harvesting moisture content of grain by 12.4 percentage points were noted. The increase in the grain component in the structure of the plant had a positive effect on the content of fodder starch in the dry matter. Correlation analysis showed a close positive relationship between the yield of starch and the yield of corn grain and a weak relationship between this indicator and the yield of dry matter. This makes it possible to use the grain yield as an integrated indicator of the productivity and nutritional value of corn grown for feed in the conditions of the Middle Urals.