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Forage Silage Hybrids Comparison
FORAGE SILAGE HYBRIDS
| Product Name | SP2774 | NK300 | HIKANE II | SS304 | SS405 | SP1615 | SP3904 BD BMR | SP3905 BD BMR |
| Seed Color | Undetermined | Red | Reddish Brown | Reddish Brown | White | White | Brown | |
| Hybrid Type | Hybrid Forage | Hybrid Forage | Hybrid Forage | Hybrid Forage | Hybrid Forage | Hybrid Forage | Hybrid Forage | Hybrid Forage |
| Brachytic Dwarf | Brachytic Dwarf | Brachytic Dwarf | ||||||
| BMR | Brown Mid-Rib | Brown Mid-Rib | Brown Mid-Rib | |||||
| Photoperiod Sensitive | Photoperiod Sensitive | |||||||
| Relative Maturity | Medium-Early | Medium-Early | Medium | Medium-Full | Full | Full | Medium-Full | Medium-Early |
| Forage Yield Potential | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Early Growth Rate | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Average Plant Height (feet) | 8' - 9' | 6' - 7' | 8' - 10' | 10' - 12' | 10' - 12'+ | 10' - 12'+ | 6' | 6' - 7' |
| Standability | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Drought Tolerance | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Leafiness | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Appearance | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Stalk Sweetness | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Percent Grain in Forage | 10% - 15% | 15% - 20% | 10% - 15% | 10% - 15% | 5% - 15% | N/A | 15% - 20% | 15% - 20% |
| Head Type | Open | Compact | Open | Semi-Open | Compact | N/A | Semi-Open | Semi-Open |
| Head Exsertion | 6" - 8" | 4" - 6" | 6" - 8" | 5" - 7" | 6" - 9" | N/A | 4" - 6" | 4" - 6" |
| Endosperm | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | N/A | Undetermined | Undetermined |
| Harvest Grain Color | Brown | Brown | Brown | Brown | Brown | Brown | N/A | Brown |
| Average Seeds / Pound (x1000) | 13 | 13 | 19 | 21 | 14.5 | 14 | 17.5 | 18 |
| MDMV | Tolerant | Tolerant | Susceptible | Susceptible | Tolerant | Tolerant | Undetermined | Undetermined |
| Downy Mildew Pathotype 1 | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Resistant | Susceptible | Tolerant | Tolerant |
| Downy Mildew Pathotype 3 | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Undetermined | Tolerant |
| Downy Mildew Pathotype P6 | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Undetermined | Tolerant |
| Anthracnose | Susceptible | Tolerant | Susceptible | Susceptible | Tolerant | Susceptible | Undetermined | Tolerant |
| Silage Harvest (Days) | 100 | 100-110 | 110-120 | 115-120 | 120-125+ | 125-130 | 110-115 | 85-95 |
| Grazing / Pasture | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
| Greenchop | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Greenbug Biotype C | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Resistant | Susceptible | Undetermined | Undetermined |
| Greenbug Biotype E | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Undetermined | Undetermined |
| Greenbug Biotype I | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Susceptible | Undetermined | Undetermined |
| Prussic Acid (HCN) Potential | High | High | High | High | High | High | High | High |
| 30" - 40" Rows Stress Min Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 60 | 50 | 100 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Stress Max Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 80 | 65 | 130 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Favorable Min Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 80 | 65 | 130 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Favorable Max Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 100 | 110 | 220 | 110 | 110 | 110 | 110 | 110 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Irrigated Min Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 100 | 110 | 220 | 110 | 110 | 110 | 110 | 110 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Irrigated Max Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 120 | 165 | 330 | 165 | 165 | 165 | 165 | 165 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Stress Minimum (Pounds/Acre) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Stress Maximum (Pounds/Acre) | 4 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Favorable Minimum (Pounds/Acre) | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 30" 40" Rows Favorable Maximum (Pounds/Acre) | 7 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Irrigated Minimum (Pounds/Acre) | 7 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| 30" - 40" Rows Irrigated Maximum (Pounds/Acre) | 10 | 13 | 18 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Drilled Stress Minimum Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 200 | Not Recommended | 200 | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | 200 |
| Drilled Stress Maximum Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 260 | Not Recommended | 260 | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | 260 |
| Drilled Favorable Minimum Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 260 | 110 | 260 | 130 | 110 | Not Recommended | 110 | 260 |
| Drilled Favorable Maximum Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 440 | 165 | 440 | 220 | 165 | Not Recommended | 165 | 440 |
| Drilled Irrigated Minimum Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 440 | 165 | 440 | 220 | 165 | Not Recommended | 165 | 440 |
| Drilled Irrigated Maximum Seeds (X1000) / Acre | 660 | 200 | 660 | 330 | 200 | Not Recommended | 200 | 660 |
| Drilled Stress Minimum (Pounds/Acre) | 10 | Not Recommended | 10 | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | 10 |
| Drilled Stress Maximum (Pounds/Acre) | 14 | Not Recommended | 14 | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | 14 |
| Drilled Favorable Minimum (Pounds/Acre) | 14 | 9 | 14 | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | 14 |
| Drilled Favorable Maximum (Pounds/Acre) | 23 | 12 | 23 | 10 | 11 | Not Recommended | 12 | 23 |
| Drilled Irrigated Minimum (Pounds/Acre) | 23 | 12 | 23 | 10 | 11 | Not Recommended | 12 | 23 |
| Drilled Irrigated Maximum (Pounds/Acre) | 35 | 15 | 35 | 16 | 14 | Not Recommended | 15 | 35 |
| Planting Date | Late March through early July. Soil temperature should be 60°F to 65°F or warmer. Planting too early can result in slow early growth and reduced plant population. | Late May through early July (Central TX March-July). Soil temperature should be 60°F to 65°F or warmer. Planting too early can result in slow early growth and reduced plant population. | Late March through early July. Soil temperature should be 60°F to 65°F or warmer. Planting too early can result in slow early growth and reduced plant population. | Late May through early June. Soil temperature should be 60°F to 65°F or warmer. Planting too early can result in slow early growth and reduced plant population. | Late March through early June. Soil temperature should be 60°F to 65°F or warmer. Planting too early can result in slow early growth and reduced plant population. | Late May through early June. Soil temperature should be 60°F to 65°F or warmer. Planting too early can result in slow early growth and reduced plant population. | Late May through early July (Central TX March-July). Soil temperature should be 60°F to 65°F or warmer. Planting too early can result in slow early growth and reduced plant population. | Late May through early July. Soil temperature should be 60°F to 65°F or warmer. Planting too early can result in slow early growth and reduced plant population. |
| Planting Depth | 1" to 1½" deep depending on soil moisture. | 1" to 1½" deep depending on soil moisture. | 1" to 1½" deep depending on soil moisture. | 1" to 1½" deep depending on soil moisture. | 1" to 1½" deep depending on soil moisture. | 1" to 1½" deep depending on soil moisture. | 1" to 1½" deep depending on soil moisture. | 1" to 1½" deep depending on soil moisture. |
| Row Width | 7.5" to 40" rows. | 15" to 40" rows. | 7.5" to 40" rows. | 10" to 40" rows. | 15" to 40" rows. | 30" to 40" rows. | 15" to 40" rows. | 15" to 40" rows. |
| Fertility: Nitrogen | Nitrogen: 7 lbs/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Nitrogen: 7 lbs./acre per ton of silage harvested. | Nitrogen: 7 lbs/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Nitrogen: 80% to 90% of corn silage needs. | Nitrogen: 7 lbs/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Nitrogen: 80% to 90% of corn silage needs. | Nitrogen: 7 lbs/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Nitrogen: 7 lbs./acre per ton of silage harvested. |
| Fertility: Phosphorus | Phosphorus: 3 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Phosphorus: 3 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Phosphorus: 3 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Phosphorus: 30 to 50 lbs./Acre. | Phosphorus: 3 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Phosphorus: 30 to 50 lbs./Acre. | Phosphorus: 3 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Phosphorus: 3 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. |
| Fertility: Potassium | Potassium: 7 lbs/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Potassium: 7 lbs./acre per ton of silage harvested. | Potassium: 7 lbs/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Potassium: 60 to 80 lbs./Acre. | Potassium: 7 lbs/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Potassium: 60 to 80 lbs./Acre. | Potassium: 7 lbs/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Potassium: 7 lbs./acre per ton of silage harvested. |
| Fertility: Magnesium | Magnesium: 1.7 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Magnesium: 1.7 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Magnesium: 1.7 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | N/A | Magnesium: 1.7 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | N/A | Magnesium: 1.7 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. | Magnesium: 1.7 pounds/acre per ton of silage harvested. |
| Fertility: Sulfur | Sulfur: 0.8 pounds/acre per ton of silage harveted. | Sulfur: 0.8 pounds/acre per ton of silage harveted. | Sulfur: 0.8 pounds/acre per ton of silage harveted. | N/A | Sulfur: 0.8 pounds/acre per ton of silage harveted. | N/A | Sulfur: 0.8 pounds/acre per ton of silage harveted. | Sulfur: 0.8 pounds/acre per ton of silage harveted. |
| Fertility: Actual P & K | Actual P & K needs should be based on current soil test levels. | Actual P & K needs should be based on current soil test levels. | Actual P & K needs should be based on current soil test levels. | Actual P & K needs should be based on current soil test levels. | Actual P & K needs should be based on current soil test levels. | Actual P & K needs should be based on current soil test levels. | Actual P & K needs should be based on current soil test levels. | Actual P & K needs should be based on current soil test levels. |
| Harvest Management | Harvest at soft dough stage for optimum silage harvest. Harvest at hard dough stage for highest sugar content hay. Whole plant moisture should be about 65%. | Harvest at soft dough stage for optimum silage harvest. Whole plant moisture should be about 65%. | Harvest at soft dough stage for optimum silage harvest. Harvest at hard dough stage for highest sugar content hay. Whole plant moisture should be about 65%. | Harvest at soft dough stage for optimum silage harvest. Whole plant moisture should be about 65%. | Harvest at soft dough stage for optimum silage harvest. Whole plant moisture should be about 65%. | Whole plant moisture should be about 65%. | Harvest at soft dough stage for optimum silage harvest. Whole plant moisture should be about 65%. | Harvest at soft dough stage for optimum silage harvest. Whole plant moisture should be about 65%. |
| Silage Tonnage (Forage) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Silage Quality (% Grain) | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | N/A | 2 | 2 |