Abstract
The objective was to evaluate sowing density influence on hydroponic corn fodder bromatological composition, harvested in different ages raised on grass mix substrate. The experimental design used was completely randomized with six replications for each treatment, using 2.0 m² plots (1.0 x 2.0 m). The densities were distributed into factorial array (4x4), consisting in four sowing densities (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 kg m-²) and four cutting ages (10, 15, 20 and 25 days). The dry matter content (DMC) and production (DMP) and crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), Fiber neutral detergent (FND) and ethereal extract (EE) were analyzed each cutting age. In terms of DMP (kg m-²), EE (%) and DMC (kg m-²), it is recommended to use the density 1.0 kg m-² with cutting age of 25 days. Regarding CP (%) the best result was at 15 days of cut and density 2.5 kg m-² and the values for FND (%) and ADF (%) were higher at 25 days at 2.0 kg density 2,0 kg m-². The choice of both best harvesting age and density will depend on what is desired of the nutritional forage (CP, EE, NDF, ADF, DMC and DMP) as well its destination, since very close values were found in all analyzes, regardless of density and age of harvest analyzed.
Highlights
Livestock production has been challenged to establish capable techniques to produce efficiently, at low prices, and with high quality standards in competitive and sustainable systems
Hydroponic corn was cultivated in an open system, disposed in east/west direction. 48 experimental units were installed in beds of two square meters, with the plastic-coated surface extended on the ground with a 2.5% gradient, and the borders limited by 6 cm high bamboo guides staked on the ground
No interaction (p > 0.05) between sowing densities and hydroponic corn cutting ages was found in the present study (Table 1)
Summary
Livestock production has been challenged to establish capable techniques to produce efficiently, at low prices, and with high quality standards in competitive and sustainable systems. In the pastures off-season, there is always a need for food supplementation for the animals. Due to prolonged drought or greater consumption, or even by other greater losses than planned, there is a need to supplement forage, aiming not to lose weight or produce due to nutritional deficits in the animals (Coutinho, Athayde, Rodrigues, and Coura, 2017). According to Santos, Manfron, Haut, and Dourado Neto (2006), the hydroponic fodder production an option, especially corn, because its cycle is fast, the development is independent of several factors such as environmental, agroclimatic or topographic conditions, and this crop presents low cost and has high production of green mass. Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants with nutrient solution, in the absence or presence of natural or artificial substrates (Maucieri et al, 2019)
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