Theme 07: Foraging Strategy
Description
The viability of double cropping corn (Zea mays L.) in Uruguay, germplasm combination, dry matter yield and nutritive value were evaluated. An early (E) maturing hybrid, an early to medium (E-M) one and an E-M variety were planted as spring crops. One E-M hybrid, one medium to late (M-L) hybrid and a late (L) variety were planted as a second crop. PVC laboratory scale silo of the spring crop and the whole plant of the summer crop were chemically analyzed. The nutritive value of the silages were related to plant maturity stage. No differences were detected in nutritive value among cultivars in the second crop except for NDF.
In the spring crop the higher DM/ha yield were obtained with the E-M hybrids and in the summer crop with the L variety. The effect of the previous crop was detected in those cultivars planted on the same field plot where the higher grain yield cultivars were obtained as spring crop.
The yield results of both crops were higher for the combination of E-M cultivars and lower for those combinations that included one E cultivar as spring crop. The metabolizable energy (ME) results tend to dilute the initial differences in DM /ha, since quality and quantity parameters tends to compensate each other, with few differences among all.
Double cropping corn is a viable option for Uruguay being unavoidable the no till cultivation of the summer crop, and the use of E and E-M cultivars as spring and summer crops, respectively.
Included in
Nutritive Value of Double Cropped Corn for Ruminant Production
The viability of double cropping corn (Zea mays L.) in Uruguay, germplasm combination, dry matter yield and nutritive value were evaluated. An early (E) maturing hybrid, an early to medium (E-M) one and an E-M variety were planted as spring crops. One E-M hybrid, one medium to late (M-L) hybrid and a late (L) variety were planted as a second crop. PVC laboratory scale silo of the spring crop and the whole plant of the summer crop were chemically analyzed. The nutritive value of the silages were related to plant maturity stage. No differences were detected in nutritive value among cultivars in the second crop except for NDF.
In the spring crop the higher DM/ha yield were obtained with the E-M hybrids and in the summer crop with the L variety. The effect of the previous crop was detected in those cultivars planted on the same field plot where the higher grain yield cultivars were obtained as spring crop.
The yield results of both crops were higher for the combination of E-M cultivars and lower for those combinations that included one E cultivar as spring crop. The metabolizable energy (ME) results tend to dilute the initial differences in DM /ha, since quality and quantity parameters tends to compensate each other, with few differences among all.
Double cropping corn is a viable option for Uruguay being unavoidable the no till cultivation of the summer crop, and the use of E and E-M cultivars as spring and summer crops, respectively.
