Abstract #W190
Section: Forages and Pastures
Session: Forages and Pastures: General forages and forage systems
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Wednesday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Gatlin Ballroom
Session: Forages and Pastures: General forages and forage systems
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Wednesday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Gatlin Ballroom
# W190
Effects of maturity at harvest on the nutritional value, yield and milk production potential of corn hybrids planted under tropical/subtropical conditions.
Kathy G. Arriola*1, Rafael M. Martins1, Thiago F. Bernardes1, Fabiola M. da Silva1, Felipe X. Amaro1, Bibiana Coy1, Enrique Alias2, Ernesto Marin2, Ludwing Leyton2, Zhengxin X. Ma1, Ibukun M. Ogunade1, Yun Jiang1, Musibau A. Bamikole1, Adegbola T. Adesogan1, 1University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2University of El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador.
Key Words: corn hybrid, maturity, dry matter yield
Effects of maturity at harvest on the nutritional value, yield and milk production potential of corn hybrids planted under tropical/subtropical conditions.
Kathy G. Arriola*1, Rafael M. Martins1, Thiago F. Bernardes1, Fabiola M. da Silva1, Felipe X. Amaro1, Bibiana Coy1, Enrique Alias2, Ernesto Marin2, Ludwing Leyton2, Zhengxin X. Ma1, Ibukun M. Ogunade1, Yun Jiang1, Musibau A. Bamikole1, Adegbola T. Adesogan1, 1University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2University of El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador.
This study examined the effect of maturity at harvest on key agronomic and nutritional traits of corn hybrids planted in the Florida Summer. Eighteen corn hybrids from 5 seed companies (Agra Tech, Croplan Genetics, Mycogen, Pioneer, and Syngenta) were grown on 4 replicate plots (1.8 × 6.1 m) in each of 4 blocks in August 2013. Hybrids were harvested at target maturity stages of 30, 35, 40, and 45% DM by removing 1.8-m sections from 2 rows in each plot. Temperatures ranged from 14.1 to 29.3oC and rainfall was 432 mm during the growing season. Disease ranking (1, low to 5, high scale), DM yield, kernel milk line position, and chemical composition at harvest were measured. Milk-per-ton (MPT) and milk-per-hectare (MPH) values were calculated with the Milk 2006 model. Data were analyzed with a model including hybrid, maturity and the interaction using the Glimmix procedure of SAS. Mean DM concentrations at harvest were 32.3, 34.6, 40.7, and 42.5% at the respective target maturity stages above. Milk-per-hectare was unaffected by maturity (1,529–1,679 kg/t) but MPT was greater when hybrids were harvested at 30 or 35% DM than at 40 or 45% DM (1668 vs. 1531 kg/t). The NDF digestibility decreased at each maturity stage (P < 0.05; 59.2, 58.0 and 57.2 and 55.7%, respectively), whereas DM yield did not change (22.2 t/ha) until the 45% DM stage when it increased (25.5 t/ha). For most hybrids, disease ranking and NDF concentration decreased to a nadir and starch concentration peaked when they were harvested at 40% DM (hybrid x maturity, P < 0.05). Kernel milk line position increased quadratically with maturity for most hybrids (hybrid × maturity, P < 0.05). Six hybrids had among the highest MPT (>1641 kg/t) and MPH (>39164 kg/ha) values and their NDF digestibility (57.3 to 60.3%) and starch concentration (27.7 to 32.0%) ranges were moderately high. Differences in MPT and MPH among hybrids of 150 kg/t and 14,132 kg /ha, respectively were evident. Yield and quality measures were simultaneously optimized when hybrids were harvested at 35 to 40% DM.
Key Words: corn hybrid, maturity, dry matter yield
