Five New Variety Introductions Include 'Ultra-Early' Maize

Kentaurus (KXA 7006) looks set to become one of the highest yielding ultra-early varieties available.

“It looks almost certain to be listed within the ultra early maturity group (Group 11) and with an impressive yield performance is ideally suited to marginal sites,” says KWS UK maize manager, John Burgess.

Compared with other varieties with comparable maturity Kentaurus offers improved plant quality, with enhanced starch and digestibility, “This willl make it a particularly popular selection for mid-Wales northwards,” he suggests. 

In similar fashion, Lapriora (KXA 5011) will also suit marginal areas, where early starch lay down and energy production are key production factors.

A dual purpose, variety, Lapriora retains a stay green stover with high plant digestibility and is well suited for the production of silage in cooler conditions/sites.

However, Lapriora is also suitable for early crimping and corn-cob mix (CCM), in early maize regions, with a cob maturity that is significantly ahead of most other grain varieties.

The three remaining types, Kerubim (KXA 6008), Kreel (KXA 6011) and Coryphee (KXA 6001), are all expected to fall into NIAB Maturity Classes 8 or 9.  All of them are characteristically KWS varieties offering early cobbing with a stay green nature to ensure strong performance whatever the season.

Kerubim is ideal for both favourable and less favourable sites with one of the widest possible maturity windows improving flexibility when harvesting. The variety maintains high plant quality and silage digestibility, whilst being very early to mature in the field.

Kreel combines extreme earliness with impressive bulk yield. In both KWS UK and 2 years of National List trials, Kreel has achieved above average yields for its maturity class (probably Group 9), outperforming later material, with no yield penalty.

Finally, Mr Burgess sees Coryphee setting a new standard for early silage across a wide range of sites. It is an ideal Ohio alternative characterised by exceptional early vigour making it ideal for rapid establishment after drilling on more challenging sites.  We expect it to fall into the NIAB Group 7 Group for maturity.

All five varieties are available through selected merchant distributor partners for the first time next spring.