FEED VALUE OF MAIZE (Zea mays var. indentata (Sturtev.) L.H.Bailey) GRAIN UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION LEVELS AND NITROGEN DOSES

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate effects of different irrigation levels and nitrogen doses to chemical composition, in vitro gas and methane production of maize kernel for animal feeding. Three different nitrogen doses such as 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 N and irrigation levels such as 50%, 75% and 100% of depleted water were applied. The study was carried out under split plot for randomized complete block experimental design with three replicates during 2013-2014 seasons and irrigation levels were allocated in to main plots while nitrogen doses in to sub plots. The two-year results of the study showed that crude protein, crude ash and crude oil ratios and gas and methane production, metabolic energy (ME) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) were positively affected by increased level of water levels and nitrogen doses while acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and dry matter contents were negatively affected. It is clear that increased level of water and nitrogen positively contributed to quality of maize kernel for animal production but more researches are needed to explain how increased level of water and nitrogen result in higher level of gas and methane production.

Exogenous application of gibberellic acid and selenium to endorse quality and yield of fodder maize under rainfed conditions

“…Similar findings were also reported by [Nawaz et al,] that exogenous application of Se significantly improved the fodder yield and quality in maize under water deficit conditions [28], which were found very close to the present results. The results of the present study were further supported with the reports of [Kale et al,] that different nitrogen doses significantly reduced the ADF concentration in maize under irrigation stressed conditions [23].…”

“…Therefore, fodder with higher ash contents should be avoided. In an experiment conducted by Kale et al (2014) it was concluded that water stress along with higher doses of nitrogen significantly increased the crude ash contents in maize [ 23]. In our findings the decreased contents of ash with the foliar application of GA3 and Se might be due to their more enzymatic activity promoting function under drought stress than enhancing the mineral uptake.…”

“…The application of GA3 caused a significant reduction of the harmful effects of drought stress and markedly enhanced the growth of maize plants [30] similar findings that foliar application of GA3 significantly improved the depressed traits which eventually enhanced the vegetative growth in maize under drought. Water stress also negatively influenced the crude protein contents by limiting the nutrient (N) availability [23]. It was also cleared from our results that foliar application of Se also had significant effects on the accumulation crude protein contents when sown under different locations.…”

“…The interactive effect of all the factors was found statistically non-significant (p>0.05) (Table 11). Drought stress significantly caused the reduction of TDM .Water stress negatively affect the TDM [23]. Increasing water stress caused a significant reduction of total dry matter (25-37%) in maize crop [24].…”