Productive and nutritional phenology of corn for the yield of fodder.

Authors

  • Ana Lorena Amador-R Universidad de Costa Rica, Estación Experimental Alfredo Volio Mata, Facultad de Agronomía.
  • Carlos Boschini-F Universidad de Costa Rica, Estación Experimental Alfredo Volio Mata, Facultad de Agronomía.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15517/am.v11i1.17362

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the yield of biomass of corn in different stages of growth, cultivated in the higlands of Costa Rica as fodder for dairy cattle. It was carried out at the Alfredo Volio Mata Experimental Station of the University of Costa Rica. The first sampling was carried out after 37 days and every two weeks threafter through 149 days. Dry matter, crude protein, ashes, neutro detergent fiber (NDF), acld detergent fiber (ADF) and the lignin were analyzed. The value of hemicellulose and cellulose were calculate. The yield of green and dry biomass in the stems, leaves, flowers and fruit of the plant was measured at different stages of growth. Before 65 days, the yield of dry mateiral in the leaves was superior to that in the stems. Later the accumulation of dry matter in the stems was around three times greater then that in the leaves. The first blossoming occurred after three months. Two weeks later the first ears of corn were collected, thir highest yield occuring at four months. After 65 days, the relation leaves:stems was less than 1, predominating the accumulation of stems. This relationship slowly decresed as the plants became older. The concentration of dry matter in the stems was less than in the leaves at all growth stages. The content of crude protein (CP) in the stem was higher (18%) during the first 50 days, decresing to 11% at 80 days and threafter remined between 6.5% and 7.5%.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

ALDRICH, S.R., LENG, E.R. 1974. Producción moderna de maíz. Editorial Hemisferio Sur. Argentina. 308 p.

A.O.A.C. 1980. Methods of analysis. Ed. 13. Washington D.C. EUA. Association of official analysis chemistry .

BRUNO, O.A.; ROMERO, L.A.; DÍAZ, M.C.; GAGGIOTTI, M.C. 1995. Efecto del momento de corte del maíz para ensilaje sobre la producción de leche. INTA, Reporte Técnico. Argentina. 100 p.

CATIE. Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza. 1990. Guía para el manejo integrado de plagas del cultivo del maíz. Serie Técnica. Informe Técnico No. 152. Turrialba, Costa Rica. 88 p.

GOERING, H.K.;VAN SOEST, P.J. 1970. Forage fiber analysis (Apparatus, reagents, procedures and some applications). Agricultural Handbook No. 379. ARSUSDA, Washington, DC.

HANWAY, J.J. 1971. Cómo se desarrolla una planta de maíz. CYMMYT. México. 26 p.

LEÓN, C.E. 1980. Efecto de la defoliación en maíz (Zea mays) para la alimentación animal. Tesis. Centro Universitario del Atlántico, Universidad de Costa Rica. 81 p.

PICCIONI, M. 1970. Diccionario de alimentación animal. Editorial Acribia. Zaragoza, España. 819 p.

SÁNCHEZ, C.H.; OLIVIERA, A.C. 1973. Producción de materia seca y estimación del potencial fotosintético mediante la defoliación artificial en maíz. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical. Reunión de maiceros

de la Zona Andina. p. 45-55.

VAN SOEST, P.J. 1982. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant. Ruminant metabolism, nutritional strategies, the cellulolytic fermentation and the chemistry of forages and

plant fibers. O & B Books, Inc. 374 p.

VÁSQUEZ, A. 1982. Estudio detallado de los suelos de la Estación Experimental de Ganado Lechero El Alto. Escuela de Fitotecnia, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Costa Rica. 36 p.

WANG-YEONG, CH.; LEE-MIAN, L.; CHENG, W.; WANG, Y.C.; LEE, M.; CHENG, W. 1995. Effect of planting density and nitrogen application rates on growth characteristics, grass yield and quality of forage maize. Journal of Taiwan Livestock Research 28(2): 125-132.

How to Cite

Amador-R, A. L., & Boschini-F, C. (2006). Productive and nutritional phenology of corn for the yield of fodder. Agronomía Mesoamericana, 11(1), 171–177. https://doi.org/10.15517/am.v11i1.17362