The word “days” is often loosely added to corn hybrid relative maturity ratings, which can lead to the wrong interpretation as calendar days. Seed companies assign relative maturity ratings based on grain moisture recorded at harvest maturity for a new hybrid in comparison to that of a standard hybrid. Clearly defining the term maturity is important to improve understanding of corn relative maturity ratings. Additionally, data on the actual duration for corn hybrids to achieve maturity from the time of planting can guide growers to optimize hybrid relative maturity selection and effectively plan harvest timing.
Interpret corn hybrid maturity ratings correctly
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Corn shown at different growth stages based on planting dates.
Number of days taken by corn hybrids with different relative maturities relative maturity to reach physiological maturity -- 25 percent to 35 percent moisture content -- for May 10, which are the white bars and May 30 planting, which are the black bars. The numbers on top of each bar are the average -- 2021, 2022 and 2023 -- number of days for each relative maturity. The gray vertical lines on each bar represent standard errors.
Predicted number of days to reach harvest maturity -- 20 percent moisture content -- for different hybrid relative maturities planted May 10, which are the white bars and May 30, which are the black bars. The numbers on top of each bar are the average number of days for each relative maturity. The gray vertical lines on each bar represent standard errors.
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