Effects of hybrid and row spacing on maize forage yield and quality

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of row spacing (40, 60 and 80 cm) on forage dry matter (DM) yield and quality of four hybrids grown in the years 2001 and 2002. The highest DM yield was obtained from the Arifiye (24.1 and 22.4 t/ha) while the lowest DM yield was obtained from Pioneer 3163 (19.9 and 19.8 t/ha) in the years 2001 and 2002, respectively. As row spacing increased, DM yield as an average of two years decreased from 27.2 to 16.6 t/ha. No differences were found among row spacing for DM content, harvest index (HI) and ear content. As row spacing increased, whole-plant acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content increased from 214 to 227 g/kg and from 420 to 451 g/kg during the year 2001, respectively. However, ADF content decreased from 281 to 267 g/kg and NDF contents decreased from 530 to 515 g/kg with increasing row spacing during the year 2002. In this study, hybrids showed distinct differences for crude protein, ADF and NDF contents in both years. Forage quality parameter including ADF and NDF of Pioneer 3163, TTM 8119 and Karadeniz Yildizi were higher than Arifiye hybrid.

Plant Growth Pattern, Forage Yield, and Quality of Indigofera zollingeriana Influenced by Row Spacing

“…The NDF variation in this research correlated to the decreased row spacing. These results agree with the findings of Iptas & Acar (2006) that NDF increases by the decrease in row spacing from the highest to the lowest.…”

“…Ndiaye et al (2016) revealed that β-carotene content accumulated in leaf area of legume despite the amount was different between species. Such differences in the results might be affected by environmental, cultural, and genetic factors (Iptas & Acar, 2006). Elgersma et al (2012) reported that the differences in β-carotene contents of legumes related to the interaction of plant species, fertilizer, and harvest time.…”

Corn plant arrangement and its effect on silage quality

“…According to Iptas and Acar (2006), reduced spacing reduced the quality of silage due to higher NDF and lower NDF digestibility. According to Beres et al (2008), NDF and ADF increased by 4%, while the starch content was 12% lower with reduced row spacing (35 cm).…”

Enhancing production of Zea mays genotypes by K application in Peshawar, Pakistan

“…Nazim et al, (2007) also reported differences in stover yield between maize varieties. Similarly, Iptas and Acar (2006) reported differences in the stover parameters among maize hybrids in their study.…”