Abstract
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield, morphometric and chemical characteristics, and the digestibility of various corn hybrids cultivated in different locations for silage production. Four corn hybrids were grown: P2866H, P3456H, P30R50VYH and P4285YHR, in four locations, defined as farm A; B; C and D. The hybrid P4285YHR presented the highest plant and ear insertion heights (2.72m, 1.52m respectively), with a minimum registered height of 2.63 m and 1.42 m, for plant and ear insertion height, and for that reason it presented the highest yield of fresh biomass (78,089kg ha-1). The TND values showed trend very close to that observed in the DISMS of the whole-plant, with hybrid P3456H presenting the highest estimated value (68.74%), and the hybrid P4285YHR the lowest among them (65.25%). In general, lower fibrous carbohydrates and lignin content, higher fibrous carbohydrates content, together with satisfactory grains participation in the plant structure led to a greater dry matter digestibility. Hybrids with lower plant heights do not necessarily have lower dry biomass yields, but hybrids of greater height and with high stem and leaf participation tend to have a higher aFDN content and less dry matter digestibility.
Highlights
The demand for corn hybrids with ability for grain production causes breeding companies to turn their attention to the development of increasingly better hybrids for this purpose, generating a shortage of hybrids with specific qualities for silage production (Horst et al, 2020a)
Lower fibrous carbohydrates and lignin content, higher fibrous carbohydrates content, together with satisfactory grains participation in the plant structure led to a greater dry matter digestibility
There was no statistical difference for phenological cycle, in days, until the harvesting moment in R5 stage, it’s important to highlight that there was a numerical difference of 23 days between the average of hybrids P2866H and P4285YHR (149 and 172 days, respectively)
Summary
The demand for corn hybrids with ability for grain production causes breeding companies to turn their attention to the development of increasingly better hybrids for this purpose, generating a shortage of hybrids with specific qualities for silage production (Horst et al, 2020a). That is why comparative research between hybrids is fundamental for the advancement of genetic improvement programs and is essential for technical recommendations given mainly to farmers (Horst et al, 2020b). This type of study may encourage breeding companies to do more to find genetically superior materials than are available. Among the characteristics of importance for a silage hybrid, these stand out: high participation of grains in the plant, high dry matter and fibrous portion digestibility (Horst et al, 2020b). The technological standard adopted by farmers and environmental conditions are extremely variable, undergoing intense changes within the same region, or from one crop season to another, influencing the productive and qualitative hybrids behavior (Ferraretto and Shaver, 2015; Tres et al, 2014)
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