Maize Kaifus

Kaifus corn — a high-yielding grain hybrid from the well-known producer KWS, adapted to various soil-climatic conditions. This hybrid belongs to the medium maturity group with a FAO rating of about 330 units, enabling physiological maturity around day 104 of vegetation. Plants are tall, with stem height reaching 260-310 cm, and the ear forms at 100-120 cm above soil surface. The ear consists of 14-16 rows of dent kernels, each row containing 35-40 kernels, with a 1000-kernel weight of 320-360 g. Ear husks are green and weaken upon ripening, facilitating rapid moisture loss and reducing kernel moisture.

The Kaifus hybrid is characterized by plasticity and high responsiveness to agronomic practices, especially mineral fertilizer application, which allows its yield potential to be realized up to 130-160 c/ha. The grain has a high starch content — up to 75% — making it in-demand for feed production, livestock fattening, grain milling, and bioethanol production. Recommended planting density varies depending on conditions: 70-80 thousand plants per hectare under favorable conditions and 55-65 thousand under unfavorable ones.

A distinctive feature of the hybrid is its semi-remontant plant type with semi-erect leaf arrangement, which requires moderate planting density to prevent plant competition. Rapid moisture loss and ear shattering after ripening allow Kaifus to be grown across a broad cultivation area, including central and western regions of Ukraine. The hybrid compensates for low plant density by forming a second ear and increasing the number of kernel rows, ensuring stable and high yields under traditional cultivation practices.