Silage maize
As silage maize is maize denotes that for the preparation of corn silage as feed or biogas substrate is grown ( energy maize ). Since maize as a C4 plant has a low water requirement and only makes moderate demands on the soil, it is a widespread crop in Germany with high yields of dry matter per area.
Cultivation and processing
The maize grown in Central Europe is mainly silage maize. The above-ground parts of the plant are chopped up, ensiled and used as animal feed (corn silage) in cattle farming or as a biogas substrate. Conventional silage maize is breedingly optimized for use as animal feed and fulfills properties such as high yields per hectare, nutrients that are easily accessible in the beef rumen and good ensiling properties to ensure long-term storage and thus year-round availability.
The high yields per hectare and the existing and proven harvesting technology made maize the most important substrate in biogas plants.
The requirements for silage maize for cattle farming and for biogas production ( energy maize ) differ. While digestibility in the cattle's digestive tract plays a major role in the cattle's digestive tract in addition to the mass yield, with energy maize the methane yield to be achieved per hectare is in the foreground. By adapting the choice of variety, seed strength, fertilization, harvest time and harvesting technique, silage maize cultivation can be optimized for specific uses.
meaning
In recent years, the cultivation of silage maize has expanded significantly, especially for the production of biogas. According to the Federal Statistical Office , maize was grown on 2,087,000 hectares (17.7% of the arable land) in Germany in 2008. 75% of it was silage maize. In 2007, 239,000 hectares of energy maize were grown. This corresponded to 12.8% of the total German maize cultivation area in 2007. Due to the strong expansion of biogas production, a further strong increase can be expected.
Criticism of corn cultivation, alternatives and supplements
The change in the landscape due to the increased cultivation of maize and the landscape and ecological consequences of plowing up grassland are criticized. Often focused on silage maize cultivation, but not limited to this, the criticism of intensive farming methods in arable farming is.
To maize monocultures to avoid other crops or grassland can be used. Depending on the operational requirements, the silages of other crops such as whole plant silage , grass silage , grass clover silage or drying ( hay ) represent alternatives or supplements to corn silage. The potential of other crops such as sunflowers and sugar beet is currently being tested for biogas production . Since corn can be sown late as thermophilic plant, is also trying the growing season , such as green rye as a cover crop to provide for the production of whole plant silage (GPS) to better utilize and thus higher yields per unit area and year.
Individual evidence
- ↑ - Production technology for energy maize: Information from the Saaten-Union on energy maize cultivation from January 9, 2007 ( memento of the original from February 23, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Federal Statistical Office: harvest statistics
- ↑ http://www.maiskomitee.de/fb_ffekten/03_02_03_08.htm ( Memento from April 20, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ NABU, 2006: Energy maize only with environmental requirements. ( Memento of the original from September 26, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
- ↑ - Information from the Saaten-Union on the cultivation of green rye for biogas production from July 13, 2007 ( Memento of the original from February 23, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
literature
- Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe eV (FNR): Handout Biogas Production and Use , 3rd Edition (2006) ISBN 3-00-014333-5 ( pdf )