PJB-2024-473
BIOMASS YIELD, MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS, NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF NOVEL FODDER MAIZE HYBRID: EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NITROGEN FERTILIZATION
Waqas saeed
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely cultivited crops on a globla scale, providing many inputs to both food and feed industries. With the recent genetic improvement, maize can be grown in any part of the world under diverse climatic and agronomic conditions .However, in Pakistan the production and nutritional value of maize fodder and maize silage are significantly lower compared to other major maize-producing countries.This has resulting in the introduction of maize novel maize hybrids by both local and multinational companies. The present research study was designed to evaluate the affect of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on yield and nutritional value of a high biomass yielding fodder maize hybrid (Jumbo). Seeds of Jumbo were sown in thee replicate fields with a seed rate of 66,000/ha. Sixteen plots were blocked in each field to which the four levels of N treatments (0, 100, 150, 200 kg/ha) were assigned according to randomized complete block design. Data was recorded on plant height (cm), cobs number (m2), cobs weight (kg/m2), whole crop weight (kg/m2), leaves weight (kg/m2), stem weight (kg/m2), fresh biomass yield (kg/ha), DM yield (kg/ha), in vitro dry matter digestibility and nutrient composition.It was shown in results that the various nitrogen levels significantly (P < 0.05) affected all measured morphological, plant growth, plant fraction and nutritional parameters of maize plant . However, with increasing nitrogen levels showing significant impact on plant height (cm) at 150kgha-1 and 200kgha-1(130.33cm & 140.77cm) respectively. Similarly results were observed for cobs(6.67/m2& 8.67 /m2) ,Cobs weight(1.64 kg/m2& 1.75 kg/m2)(,whole crop weight(6.86 kg/m2& 7.40 kg/m2), leaves weight (1.49 kg/m2& 1.56 kg/m2), stem weight(2.65 kg/m2& 3.14 kg/m2),fresh biomass yield(74828 kg/ha-1& 76367 kg/ha-1)and dry matter yield(23760 kg/ha-1& 27182 kg/ha-1).. After proximate analysis results showed that CP, DM, OM, moisture and IVDMD increased (p<0.05)). While the Ash content, ether extract (EE), CF, NDF and ADF were all significantly reduced (P<0.05) by different levels of nitrogen. The findings of this study showing that highest plant height , Cobs numbers , Whole Crop weight , Cobs weight, leaves weight, Stem weight ,fresh biomass yield and dry fodder yield were obtained at 200kg/ha-1.From the application of nitrogen levels ,the levels of CP, DM, moisture, OM and IVDMD increased while ADF , NDF , Ash , EE and CF decreased
Keywords: Fodder maize hybrids; nitrogen levels; biomass yield; morphological characteristics; nutritional value; invitro dry matter digestibility
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