Response of Above‐Ground Dry Matter Yield of Silage Maize to Planting Patterns in the Hebei Region and Varietal Differences in the Relationship Between Planting Density and Feed Quality Components

The goal of cultivating silage is to obtain a high yield of dry matter. However, high‐density planting leads to high yields but low quality. The goal of this study was to solve this problem by comparing the effects of planting pattern (conventional row: CR, twin row: TR, and narrow row: NR) on the yield and quality of silage maize and their synergistic coupling relationship under different planting densities from 2023 to 2024. This study showed that the planting pattern is a key regulatory variable that improves yield. Under TR, the yields of total and ear dry matter of both cultivars were significantly higher than those of CR and NR. Changes in the yield of dry matter with planting density followed significant quadratic regression curves in all the planting patterns, and there was a larger absolute value of the quadratic coefficient ( a ) of TR. An increase in planting density resulted in an optimal planting density ( b ) for the high‐starch cultivar that clustered within the range of 7.2 × 10 4 to 8.4 × 10 4 plants/ha, which was higher than the range of the ordinary cultivar. There were significant differences in the degree of correlation between the cultivars. Jiyu 757 had a higher potential maximum yield ( c ) and starch content than Zhengdan 958, but there was a more prominent negative correlation between yield and crude protein. Conversely, Zhengdan 958 had a superior synergy between yield and quality. Therefore, the high‐starch cultivars are more likely to achieve a synergistic effect of high yields, high starch, and crude protein contents within a wider range of optimal planting densities than the ordinary cultivars, but they are less stable than the ordinary cultivars. In addressing the specific cultivation requirements of different cultivars, the TR was more effective at harmonizing yield and quality compared with the CR and NR.