Evaluating Silage Corn Management: The Roles of Hybrid Selection, Fungicide Efficacy and Timing, and Harvest Timing (2022-2023)

Monday, August 4, 2025

12:30 PM - 12:45 PM HST

Location: Room 311

Presenting Author(s)

PP

Peyton Phillips

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University
Lansing, Michigan, United States

Author(s)

EB

Erin Burns

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan, United States
BB

Barry Bradford

Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan, United States
MH

Micalah Herendeen

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan, United States
WW

William Widdicombe

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan, United States
MC

Martin I. Chilvers, n/a

Professor
Michigan State University
EAST LANSING, Michigan, United States

Abstract Text: Foliar diseases such as tar spot (Phyllachora maydis), northern corn leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum) and mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. can impact corn silage quality and yield. To address these issues, a series of small plot field trials were conducted. Eight fungicide products were assessed at silking across 4 site years on a brown mid-rib and dual-purpose hybrid. A tank mixture of Headline AMP (pyraclostrobin 13.64%, metconazole 5.14%) and Proline (prothioconazole 41%) significantly reduced both deoxynivalenol and zearalenone mycotoxin levels in the BMR, while Miravis Neo (pydiflumetofen 7.0%, azoxystrobin 9.3%, propiconazole 11.6%) lowered lignin content. Hybrid by fungicide interaction was examined across 4 site years by testing three BMR and three dual purpose hybrids treated with Delaro Complete (prothioconazole 14.9%, trifloxystrobin 13.1%, fluopryram 10.9%) at silking. Fungicide significantly reduced tar spot severity and mycotoxin levels, while hybrid selection had a greater impact on key nutritional factors. Harvest and fungicide timing were evaluated over two site years with seven fungicide application timings across three harvest windows. Early harvest significantly reduced mycotoxin levels, whereas mid and late harvests increased starch and yield. Under low foliar disease pressure, harvest timing had a greater effect on silage quality than fungicide application timing. These findings highlight the need for integrated management strategies that balance disease supression, forage quality, and yield in silage corn production.