Film

Growing Maize Under Degradable Plastic Film

The system for growing maize under film involves sowing maize corn seed, spraying a pre-emergence herbicide and laying a thin layer of degradable plastic film over the soil. The process is made simple and quick to implement using the unique Samco drill, which features the X-Tend principle. This unique system combines three different machines working as a one-pass operation. Many contractors are available with Samco drills, so farmers should have little difficulty in getting someone close at hand to lay the seed and film for them.

Maizetech Ltd. has identified suitable maize hybrids and developed agronomic methods and in-field support practices that helped growers integrate the system into their farming practice.

The Maizetech supplied film plastic is a micron pin-holed oxo-degradable film. The film is supplied by the roll. The thin plastic film creates a microclimate for the maize seeds as they germinate and grow. The film protects young seedlings from poor weather conditions and late frosts by increasing the ambient and ground temperature. This provides a cost effective method of delivering higher quality and higher yielding crops.

Independent trials have shown the effectiveness of growing maize under film and the practice is now well established in Ireland particularly with hybrid seeds such as Justina and Benicia. Other late harvesting, high yielding hybrid seed varieties such as PR39D60, PR39K13 and PR39W67 have been identified and found to be suitable to cater for different parts of the country and end-user aims.

By growing maize under film planting can commence as early as the second week of April even in northern parts of Ireland and in Northern Ireland with yields ranging from 20-28 tonnes fresh weight per acre

How the maize grows under film

When the film is first laid the pinholes allow trapped air under the film to escape so that the film is tight against the soil.

During the first few weeks of plant growth the pinholes maintain a stable environment supporting maximum growth. As the crops grow the pinholes enlarge allowing the plant easy access through the film while maintaining soil temperature.

The plastic film is formulated with the latest ingredients in polymer degradation. No visual trace of the plastic can be found in the soil after 2 years. In the first season 90% of the plastic will degrade with the plastic buried in the soil taking longer.

Contact us to order you plastic film, herbicide sprays and other requirements for growing maize under film.