Hybrid maturity ratings have always been a sort of mystery to farmers and consultants alike.

One factor that contributes to the mystery is that your definition of "maturity" may not be the same as my definition. By that, I mean that there is no accepted standard method for assigning relative hybrid maturity values within the seed industry.

Agronomists usually refer to "maturity" as that point in time at the end of the grain filling period when maximum weight per kernel has occurred. The usual term for this is "physiological maturity" and is often associated with the development of the black layer at the tip of the mature kernel.

Grain moisture content at the onset of physiological maturity typically occurs within the range of 25 to 35 percent, though black layer can occur at grain moistures as wet as 40 percent. Grain moisture at physiological maturity varies year to year depending on growing conditions and can vary hybrid to hybrid.

Another definition of "maturity" is that point in time after physiological maturity when a hybrid can be safely harvested with minimal harvest loss, either by kernel loss or kernel damage. My term for this is "harvest maturity" and is usually associated with a grain moisture content of around 25 percent.

The most commonly used method for assigning hybrid maturity ratings (i.e., "days to maturity") is based on comparisons among hybrids near the time of "harvest maturity", with the assumption that grain moisture loss in the field is about 0.5 percentage point per day. Consequently, two days of field drying equals 1 "day" of relative hybrid maturity (0.5 x 2=1), four days of field drying equals 2 "days" of relative hybrid maturity (0.5 x 4=2), etc.

For example, if the grain moisture content of a new hybrid is two percentage points wetter than that of a "standard" hybrid with an assigned relative maturity value of 110, the new hybrid is assigned a relative maturity value of 114 (two points of moisture divided by 0.5 point per day moisture loss).

Historically, folks have added the word "days" to this hybrid maturity rating value (i.e., 114-day hybrid), but it is important to recognize that this value does not refer to actual calendar time between planting and harvest maturity. Consequently, traditional relative maturity ratings of hybrids are of little help in determining whether a hybrid will safely mature before a killing fall frost.

The other common method for assigning relative hybrid maturities is based on the thermal time between planting and physiological maturity. Terms used to describe thermal time include "growing degree days" (GDD), "growing degree units" (GDU) and "heat units" (HU).

Growing degree day values represent the amount of heat accumulated over a period of time. Since this method depends on actual measurement of thermal time, there is no need to compare hybrids in order to assign maturity rating values. In other words, the maturity rating for an individual hybrids stands on its own. Common values for such maturity ratings range from about 2500 (earlier maturity hybrids) to 2800 (later maturity) for hybrids commonly grown in Indiana.

The relationship between "days to maturity" and GDD ratings is close but not always exact because each is based on a different definition of "maturity", the difference being the time period between physiological and harvest maturity.

If two hybrids require the same number of GDD to reach physiological maturity, but field dry at different rates, they may be assigned the same GDD hybrid rating, but different "days to maturity" ratings. Neither method is perfect, either, because of the influences of climatic conditions and plant stress on the grain maturation process.

Another "fly in the ointment" is the fact that there are no agreed upon standards within the seed industry for the application of either method for assigning relative hybrid maturities. Minor differences in methodologies among seed companies often result in the farmer's frustration in comparing maturity values among different brands of hybrids.

Exception: By law, the labeled relative maturity of commercial corn hybrids sold in Minnesota must be within three days of the actual relative maturity as determined by comparative trials conducted by the Minnesota Ag. Expt. Station.

Unfortunately, the lack of industry standardization can make it difficult for growers who need to make a hybrid maturity decision for late planting situations and want to base that decision on the remaining available GDDs.

Fortunately, at least one of the larger seed corn companies clearly states that their hybrids are rated according to GDD accumulations from planting to kernel black layer. Consequently, one can compare their relative hybrid maturity ratings against their growing degree day ratings to kernel black layer and develop a mathematical formula for predicting the GDD requirement of a hybrid using its relative hybrid maturity rating (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2. Relationship between company ratings for growing degree units (GDUs) from planting to kernel black layer with company ratings for relative hybrid maturity (CRMs). Adapted from data listed in "Characteristic Ratings of Pioneer® brand Corn Hybrids for 2011", Pioneer Hi-Bred, Int'l.

Disclaimer: Reference to any seed company in this article does not constitute an endorsement of said seed company by me or Purdue University. The public availability of said seed company's hybrid maturity ratings simply facilitates the mathematical modeling described in this article.

One can use this relationship to estimate the GDDs from planting to black layer for other companies' hybrids of similar relative maturities. For example, if the relative maturity of a hybrid is known to be comparable to a 110-day (CRM) Pioneer™ brand hybrid maturity, then Figure 1 suggests that the GDDs from planting to black layer would be approximately 2650. With this estimate in hand, growers can then begin the process of determining safe hybrid maturities for late planting situations.