Evaluation of corn cultivars harvested at two cutting heights for ensilage

The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics, bromatological-chemical composition and digestibility of 11 corn cultivars (Zea mays) harvested at two cutting heights. Cultivars D 766, D 657, D 1000, P 3021, P 3041, C 805, C 333, AG 5011, FO 01, CO 9621 and BR 205 were evaluated when they were harvested 5 cm above ground (low) and 5 cm below the insertion of the first ear (high). The experiment was designed as random blocks, with three replicates, arranged in an 11 x 2 factorial scheme. Cultivars presented similar productions of forage dry matter and grains. Percentages of stalk, leaf, straw, cob and kernel fractions were different among cultivars, as well as dry matter content of the whole plant at harvest. Considering the whole plant, only the contents of gross energy, nitrogen in neutral detergent fiber, and in vitro neutral and acid detergent fiber digestibility did not differ among cultivars. Increase on the cutting height improved forage quality due to the reduction of stalk and leaf fractions and contents of cell wall constituents.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Caetano,Hamilton, Oliveira,Mauro Dal Secco de, Freitas Júnior,José Esler de, Rêgo,Aníbal Coutinho do, Rennó,Francisco Palma, Carvalho,Marina Vieira de
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia 2011
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-35982011000100003
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