A two-location trial for selecting corn silage hybrids for the humid tropic: forage and grain yields and in vitro fermentation characteristics

Abstract

The goal of our study was to evaluate the nutritional potential of dented corn hybrids for silage production. We performed a two-location trial in which 19 dented corn hybrids and five corn controls grew in four randomized blocks within two experimental areas located in the Northern (Campos dos Goytacazes) and Northwestern (Itaocara) Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. We recorded yields of fresh and dry forage matter and yields of fresh and dry grain matter, as well as chemical composition variables. We interpreted variables by assuming a Normal distribution for yield variables and a Beta distribution for chemical composition and ratios. The SAS GLIMMIX procedure fitted the linear model under those assumptions. Dual-pool models fitted the gas production profiles generated by in vitro anaerobic fermentations. We used the nlme of R software to fit the dual-pool models and the information-theoretic approach to evaluate their quality of fit. We did a cluster analysis (NbClust of R) to group corn hybrids based on fresh and DM yields and kinetic parameters of in vitro gas production. Three clusters of corn hybrids stood out, their basic differences relied on fresh and DM yields. Nonetheless, the least-squares means for gas production characteristics among groups did not present disjoint confidence intervals. Therefore, we can infer that dented corn hybrids rank by forage yield, but not by forage quality, and recommend the most productive ones that consistently outstand in both locations (hybrids UENF-2203, UENF-2192, UENF-2193, and UENF-506-11).

Parâmetros de fermentação in vitro de palha de braquiária processada ou não processada e subprodutos do processamento de batata e mandioca

“…Conversely, the k2 values of the tested diets (0.040 and 0.037) were greater than those of corn silage (Processi et al, 2016). Bendia et al (2021) evaluated the nutritional potential of corn hybrids using the in vitro gas production technique and the values they estimated are comparable to those found in this study for diets. The k1 values, according to the confidence interval presented in the study, were similar between corn (G1= 0.140; G2=0.141 and G3=0.160) and the diets studied here (UBH-CST=0.141 and PBH-SBP = 0.127).…”