Optimizing the Growth of Silage Maize by Adjusting Planting Density and Nitrogen Application Rate Based on Farmers’ Conventional Planting Habits

Abstract

Silage maize is cultivated due to its high nutritional value as a forage. China’s recent agricultural policy promotes the popularization and cultivation of silage maize. The production of silage maize is affected by planting density and nitrogen application. Based on investigating the planting habits of local farmers, we adjusted the planting density and nitrogen application rate to optimize the growth of silage maize. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of planting density (65,000 plant ha−1 (D1), 80,000 plant ha−1 (D2), and 95,000 plant ha−1 (D3)) and nitrogen rate (150 kg ha−1 (N1), 230 kg ha−1 (N2), and 310 kg ha−1 (N3)) on growth, yield, and quality of silage maize using a two-factor random block design. Planting density and nitrogen fertilizer significantly affected plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and starch of silage maize. In summary, the combination of a planting density of 80,000 plants ha−1 and a nitrogen application rate of 310 kg ha−1 produced a higher crude protein and starch yield and better palatability and quality; this result can aid silage maize growth.

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Planting Density on Growth, Nutrient Characteristics, and Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Silage Maize

“…Our findings indicate that as the planting density was increased from 60,000 to 75,000 plants•hm −2 , the silage maize yield exhibited a consistent increase, albeit without a significant difference between 75,000 and 90,000 plants•hm −2 (Figure 1). Qian et al [22] similarly observed a significant increase in the silage maize yield when the planting density was increased from 65,000 to 80,000 plants•hm −2 , with no significant difference between 80,000 and 95,000 plants•hm −2 . This finding suggests that high planting densities can hamper silage maize growth, compensating for yields per hectare with a higher number of plants exhibiting lower yields per plant [23].…”