Ridge Cultivation for the Adaption of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) to Suboptimal Conditions of Low Mountain Ranges in Organic Farming in Central Europe

Fodder maize cultivation under low mountain conditions in Central Europe presents obstacles for organic dairy farmers; temperatures and high precipitation values spring delay the juvenile development of maize, which leads to lower fluctuating yields. Increasing soil temperature during critical growth phase is beneficial cultivation. For this reason, 0.15 m ridge-row (RCM) was compared a typical flat surface method (FCM) with 0.75 row spacing three environments (En) 2017, 2018 2020 on-farm at sites Germany. In experiment, randomised block design one-factorial arrangement, (ST) 0.05 depth midday, field emergence (FE) 4, 8, 16 20 days after sowing (DAS), dry matter yields (DM) every En plant N, P, K content were investigated. RCM led significantly higher ST 4 DAS En, 12 8 2020. did not accelerate FE but positively impacted starch content. generated yield whole plants corn cobs, protein than FCM. slightly increased plant-available P Mg from 0 0.3 influenced mineral N beginning grain development. RCM, simple technique, demonstrated benefits cultivation, particularly climatically marginal locations