Corn Hybrids Research Articles

Effect of different corn hybrids on the growth performance, survival and carcass yield of broilers - a review

Effect of different corn hybrids on the growth performance, survival and carcass yield of broilers - a review

Synergy of Social Capital of Local Residents and Transmigrates in Corn Farming in Garantung Village

A synergy of social capital of residents and transmigrates in corn farming in Garantung village. Social capital is an important factor in agricultural economic development. In this context, an analysis was carried out to find out the forms and contributions between the social capital of the local population and transmigration in the context of corn farming. The research paradigm used is the social definition paradigm with a qualitative research approach and a case study type of research. Subjects and informants in this study used purposive techniques, data obtained through interviews, observation, and documentation. Criteria for checking the validity of the data are carried out through the Credibility, Transferability, Dependability, and Conformability tests. Social capital in this study uses the theory of the concept of social capital developed by Robert Putnam, which consists of three elements: social networks, norms, and trust (Putnam, 1995). This social capital helps build relationships of mutual trust, collaboration, and togetherness in achieving common goals. The transmigration program significantly contributed to productivity and sustainability through corn farming in Garantung village by bringing social capital such as knowledge, skills, and economic resources. The synergy of social capital of residents and transmigration brings various benefits, including increased productivity of diversified agricultural businesses, exchange of knowledge and experience, and sustainability of agricultural businesses in Garantung village. Factors that influence synergy include cultural aspects, trust, common goals, effective communication, and good support and coordination from the government. The contribution of the synergy of the social capital of residents and transmigration in hybrid corn farming can lead to increased welfare, business opportunities, and increased productivity efficiently and effectively. The problems faced by farmers in general, such as patron-client networks, middlemen can be overcome through cooperation which in Indonesia is known as gotong royong; strengthening networks that can be formed in economic development, especially in Corn farming, is, of course, based on the strength of individual belief in the group.

Flint corn silage management: influence of maturity stage, inoculation with Lentilactobacillus buchneri, and storage time on fermentation pattern, aerobic stability, and nutritional characteristics.

High quality corn silage depends on factors such as corn type, stage of crop development at harvest time, fermentation time, in addition to use or not of inoculants. This study aimed to investigate the impact of maturity stage, bacterial inoculation, and storage time on fermentation, aerobic stability, and nutritional characteristics of flint corn silage and their implications for corn silage management. A flint corn hybrid was harvested very early, early, and medium (at 250, 300 and 350 g dry matter (DM)/kg as fed, respectively) and ensiled in mini-silos without (control) or with Lentilactobacillus buchneri CNCM I-4323 at 1 × 105 cfu/g for 120, 240 and 360 d to investigate how these factors interact with each other. There was only a small increase (7 g/kg starch; p = 0.003) in starch digestibility (starch-D) in the silages stored for 360 d when compared to that stored for 240 d, but with no difference for 120 d. Despite the reduced starch-D (526 vs. 694 g/kg starch; p < 0.001), silages produced from medium harvest had higher (p < 0.001) starch content (317 vs. 137 g/kg DM) and higher amount of digestible starch (169 vs. 98.5 g/kg DM; p < 0.001) compared to very early harvest. The 2-way interactions (inoculation × storage time and maturity × storage time) showed that inoculation of corn silage with L. buchneri increased (p < 0.001) the aerobic stability, and that more mature crop silage had higher aerobic stability (140 h; p = 0.036) than the others (118 and 48.5 h for those silages from very early and early harvest). The storage for a longer time (>120 d) with the goal of increasing silage digestibility did not occur. Harvesting whole-crop flint corn with 300 to 350 g/kg DM is desirable to have higher DM yield and starch accumulation. Inoculation with L. buchneri is recommended to preserve the silage against aerobic deterioration. This study has shown the importance of harvesting flint corn at the right time, and the need for inoculation with L. buchneri to ensure greater yield, starch accumulation, and silage preservation, if 120 days of storage are not exceeded.

Adaptability and damage capacity of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on various Gramineae: a laboratory study

Spodoptera frugiferda is a pest that initially attacks corn plants in tropical and subtropical regions such as America. At the beginning of 2019, the S. frugiperda entered Indonesia and was first found to attack corn plants in Sumatra. In the same year 2019, the pest was also found attacking corn plants in Bali. Until now, the presence of these pests has spread to various parts of the world and is not limited to corn plants but also to other Graminae plants. This study aims to determine the type of alternative host plant S. frugiperda in other graminae families. This study used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) using six 5 types of host plants as treatments and five replications. Research on the adaptation of S. frugiperda to host plants was carried out in the laboratory, while observations of the level of damage to plants were carried out using the scoring method based on the percentage of attack area on the leaves. The results showed that S. frugiperda was only able to adapt to the four host plants tested, namely hybrid corn, sorghum and local rice, while hybrid rice and rice varieties of Ciherang were not selected, which was indicated by their preference for not choosing these plants as spawning sites. S. frugiperda showed the best selectivity level for hybrid maize as host. In general, the characteristics of the damage caused by S. frugiperda were almost the same in each of the test plants. The highest level of damage was found during the fourth observation on Hybrid Corn in the heavy category. Attacks and leaf damage were not found in Hybrid Rice and Ciherang Rice Varieties. The findings of this study are useful in predicting population dynamics of S. frugiperda especially in areas cultivating Graminae crops, to develop sustainable integrated pest management strategies for this pest.

Short Communication: Feeding trial, biological, and demographic parameters of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on several Graminae species (laboratory trial scale)

Abstract. Sunari AAAAS, Supartha IW, Susila IW, Utama IWEK, Yasa IWS, Yudha IKW. 2023. Short Communication: Feeding trial, biological, and demographic parameters of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on several Graminae species (laboratory trial scale). Biodiversitas 24: 3325-3331. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda J.E Smith is a new pest that has entered Indonesia. The ability of the S. frugiperda pest adaptation to several types of graminae plants is important to determine the distribution of potential hosts in the field. The adaptability of S. frugiperda was observed from two parameters, namely biology, and demography, which were tested on three plant types of the Graminae family consisting of hybrida variety corn, Jatiluwih local rice, and sorghum. This research was conducted from May to November 2022 at the Integrated Pest and Disease Management Laboratory (IPMLab), Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University. The observation was made on several bionomic and demographic parameters. Demographic parameters were determined by observing the gross reproduction rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), generation time (T), doubling time (DT), and observing the fecundity rate of S. frugiperda. The results showed that S. frugiperda biology was best in hybrid corn plants with a short duration of larval life. The survival chances were obtained from daily observations of S. frugiperda, which decreased on day 32 on hybrid corn and sorghum plants. On the other hand, on Jatiluwih local rice plants, imago's survival chance started to decrease at 34 days old. In observing demographic parameters, lower R0 and r values and higher T and DT values ??indicate that hybrid corn plants are the best for S. frugiperda to grow and develop.

Analysis of Principal Components for the Assessment of Silage Corn Hybrid Performance under Water Deficit

Corn is an important crop for animal production systems. Owing to climate change, it is important to understand the behavior of commercial corn hybrids under low soil water availability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenic characteristics and yields of silage corn hybrids subjected to different water conditions using univariate and multivariate analyses. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme with four replications. Corn hybrids (AGRI104, AGRI320, AGRI330, AGRI340, and AGRI360) and water replacement levels (50% and 100% replacement of crop evapotranspiration—ETc) were considered as factors. A water replacement level of 50% ETc was defined as a severe water deficit that persisted for 46 days from V7 until harvesting (R3). Plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, chlorophyll index, water productivity, fresh and dry mass, and dry matter of the shoot and root systems were evaluated. An analysis of variance and a mean test of isolated variables were carried out, and a multivariate perspective, through principal components was performed. In general, the replacement of 50% ETc changed the morphophysiological characteristics of the plants; however, it was only possible to classify the hybrids through a principal components analysis. The best performing hybrids, regardless of the water replacement levels, were AGRI340 and AGRI360.

Effects of plant growth regulators on seed productivity of maize lines

Рurpose and objectives. To study the influence of growth regulators on seed productivity and seeding quality of the development of maternal forms, and the pollen-forming ability of parental forms of corn hybrids, as well as to develop ways of using growth regulators in the primary stages of seed production. Material and methods. The experiments were conducted in the crop rotation fields of the Plant Production Institute named after V.Ya. Yuriev of NAAS in 2018-2019. The experiments were conducted in the crop rotation fields of the Plant Production Institute named after V.Ya. Yuriev of NAAS in 2018-2019. Seeds of maize lines were sown with manual planters in six-row plots of 29.4 m2 (arrangement 4♀:2♂), in four replications. Phenological observations and biometric measurements were performed on 10 plants in each replication. Eight maize lines – hybrids’ parents were taken as the test material: 4 lines – steryl counterparts (Kharkivska 126 M, Kharkivska 215 M, Kharkivska 164 M, and Kharkivska 155 M) and 4 lines – sterility maintainers (Kharkivska 126 ZM, Kharkivska 215 ZM, Kharkivska 164 ZM, and Kharkiv 155 ZM). There were 4 treatments: 1) no treatment (control); 2) Appetizer - spraying in the phase of 4-5 leaves; 3) Nertus Planta Peg – pre-sowing seed treatment; 4) Nertus Planta Peg - pre-sowing seed treatment + spraying in the phase of 4-5 leaves. The stigma viability was determined by sequential removal of plastic bags. To evaluate the accession performance, the following parameters were recorded: - The plant number per plot; - The infertile plant number; - The number of plants with undeveloped cobs; - The number of plants with complete cobs. One average quantitative sample of cobs (10 cobs) was taken and weighed for drying and analyzing the cob structure. Results and discussion. In the lines - steryl counterparts, a significant influence of the growth regulators on the plant weight and condition was observed before the tassel emergence onset. The best response of plants to the PGRs was observed in lines Kharkivska 155 M and Kharkivska 155 ZM. After treatment 2 (Appetizer), we noted the greatest surplus in the biometric parameters in comparison with the corresponding control plots. In the PGR-treated plots, the tassel flowering occurred later and stigmas appeared earlier, which reduced the gap in between the anthesis in the male and female lines. Line Kharkivska 126 showed the best synchrony of anthesis in experiment 2 (Appetizer) - the anthesis time in the male and female forms almost coincided (♂ 27/07 - ♀ 28/07). In the treatment 3 (Nertus treatment of seeds) and 4 (Nertus treatment of seeds + spraying) plots, the anthesis peaks in the both forms coincided (♂ 27/07-♀ 27/07), however, the male forms stopped flowering much earlier than the female ones: there was an anthesis gap (as of 03/08 2% of ♂ forms and 43% of ♀ forms flowered). We recorded a significant increase in the kernel weight of the sample, 1000-kernel weight, the total yield and other indices in the PGR-treated plots in comparison with the corresponding control ones. Nevertheless, in the experiment the 3 treatments (Appetizer, Nertus, Nertus +) influenced the pollen productivity of the maize lines - sterility maintainers. The plant growth regulators had no significant effect the pollen viability in the lines - sterility maintainers. Of the sterile analogues, the PGR effect on the stigma viability was noted for lines Kharkivska 126 M and Kharkivska 215 M. It was less noticeable in the other lines. Conclusions. The results on the growth regulator effectiveness allow us to recommend Appetizer and Nertus Planta Peg as improvers of the seed productivity of the 1st generation maize hybrids’ parents.

Konsentrasi Dan Lama Perendaman Ekstrak Bawang Merah (Allium Cepa L.) Terhadap Invigorasi Benih Jagung ( Zea Mays L.) Kadarluasa

Seeds that are expired will result in delays in the process of growth and germination. This study aims to determine the concentration of shallot extract on the growth of expired corn seeds, determine the soaking time of shallot extract on the growth of expired corn seeds and determine the best combination between the concentration and soaking time of expired shallot extract on the growth of expired corn seeds. This research was carried out in the Pat Petulai University laboratory from April 2021 to May 2021 in Curup. The seeds used are hybrid corn seeds Pioneer P32 which had expired on April 15, 2020. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) factorial with 2 factors. The first factor is the concentration of shallot extract (K) consisting of 4 levels K0 = Without giving shallot extract (Control), K1 = Concentration of shallot extract 20% /100 ml distilled water, K2 = Concentration of shallot extract 40% /100 ml distilled water .K3 = Concentration of shallot extract 60%/ 100 ml of distilled water, while the second factor is soaking time (P) consisting of 4 levels: P0 = Without immersion (control) P1 = 3 hours P2 = 6 hours P3 = 9 hours. The observed variables included germination rate, sprout height, stem diameter, plant fresh weight. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance at 5% level. If there is a significant difference, it will be continued with the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test. The results showed that the treatment with shallot extract concentration and soaking time had a significant effect on plant height, stem diameter and plant fresh weight, but had no effect on sprout height and root length. It was found that there was an interaction between the concentration of shallot extract and the soaking time because it could increase the increase in plant height and plant wet weight. The best plant height, stem diameter and plant fresh weight were seen in the treatment of shallot extract concentration of 60%/100 m l of distilled water.&#x0D; &#x0D;

Developing Functional Relationships between Soil Moisture Content and Corn Early-Season Physiology, Growth, and Development.

Drought is a severe threat to agriculture production that affects all growth stages of plants, including corn (Zea mays L.). Any factor affecting early seedling growth and development will significantly impact yield. Despite the recurrence of low rainfall during the growing seasons, corn responses to different early-season soil moisture content levels have not been investigated. In this study, we investigated how corn morpho-physiological and biomass traits responded to varied soil moisture content during the early vegetative stage. Two corn hybrids were grown in a pot-culture facility under five different soil moisture treatments (0.15, 0.12, 0.09, 0.06, and 0.03 m3 m-3 volumetric water content, VWC) to assess the growth and developmental responses to varied soil moisture content during early-season growth (V2 to V7) stage. Sub-optimal soil moisture content limited plant growth and development by reducing physiological and phenotypic expression. Stomatal conductance and transpiration were decreased by an average of 65% and 59% across stress treatments relative to optimum conditions. On average, soil moisture deficit reduced the total leaf area by 71% and 72% compared to the control in 'A6659VT2RIB' and 'P1316YHR', respectively. Shoot and root dry weights were reduced by 74% and 43% under 0.03 m3 m-3 VWC. An increase in the root-to-shoot ratio was noticed under low VWC conditions compared to the control. Based on the stress tolerance index, the physiology and leaf growth parameters were more sensitive to soil moisture deficit. Our results highlight the impact of sub-optimal soil moisture on physiology and morphological traits during early-season growth. 'P1316YHR' demonstrated better physiological performance under stress conditions, while 'A6659VT2RIB' produced relatively better root growth. The findings suggest that biomass partitioning between shoot and root components is dynamic and depends on stress intensity. The current findings can help to prioritize traits associated with the early-season drought tolerance in corn. The functional relationships developed between soil moisture content and growth and developmental responses can be integrated into corn crop modeling to allow better irrigation management decisions.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СРЕДСТВ ХИМИЗАЦИИ НА ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ УРОЖАЯ ЗЕЛЕНОЙ МАССЫ КУКУРУЗЫ С ПОЧАТКАМИ МОЛОЧНО-ВОСКОВОЙ СПЕЛОСТИ

Corn is a valuable food and technical crop and almost all its parts are used in different branches of industry which cannot do without corn grains and pulp and paper mills use its leaves and stems. In addition, the crop has important agronomic importance in controlling field weeds. It is one of the most important cereal crops in world agriculture. As a high-yielding crop, it plays an important role in fodder production. A powerful reserve for increasing corn yields is mineral fertilizers, as well as the widespread introduction of new zoned varieties and hybrids of corn into production. This article presents the influence of organic and mineral fertilizers with macro-, micro-, complex fertilizers and growth regulators on corn yield and production. Sufficient nutrients are necessary to obtain high yields. Various growth-promoting substances are also used in modern agricultural practice. They improve seed germination and germination energy, accelerate plant growth, plant development and increase yield. Using special mixtures of fertilizers for corn concentrates all the necessary complexes of nutrients. The necessary complex of nutrients is applied in one step, which reduces the unevenness of fertilization. Spraying of combined fertilizers containing microelements and growth regulators before sowing increases plant resistance to adverse weather conditions. The use of combined compositions of NPK fertilizers allows the development of resource-saving systems and reduces the cost of fertilizers.

РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ И АДАПТИВНОСТИ ГИБРИДОВ КУКУРУЗЫ ООО «КВС РУС» НА СЕРЫХ ЛЕСНЫХ ПОЧВАХ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАТАРСТАН

The article presents the results of research conducted to study the productivity and adaptability of corn hybrids of the company "KVS RUS" LLC on gray forest soils of the Ancestral region of the Republic of Tatarstan. Cromwell and Rodriguez hybrids are siliceous, plastic, universal use with FAO 180. Bodor is a hybrid with dynamic growth in the early stages of development, FAO 170, suitable for grain and silage. Nestor is a hybrid with a high potential for grain productivity, FAO 190, adapts well to stressful conditions. Lionel is one of the early–maturing hybrids of the KVS RUS line. It is the leader for testing in the territory of the Russian Federation. It is cultivated for silage and grain, FAO 180. Frederico is a hybrid with a stable yield of grain and silage. It has a good ratio of starch and easily digested fiber, FAO 190. Studies have shown that the tallest plants are formed in Frederico hybrids – 169.9 cm and Bodor – 149.2 cm (measurements were carried out during the sweeping phase). The shortest plants were formed in the hybrid Nestor 124.6 cm. The feeding potential was manifested in the hybrids of Frederico and Lionel. The aboveground mass of these hybrids was 23.3 and 18.7 t/ha, respectively. The smallest aboveground mass was formed in the hybrid Nestor 14.6 t/ha. The largest assimilation surface of leaves was formed in Lionel hybrids – 48.6 thousand m2/ha and Frederico - 37.9 thousand m2/ha. And the smallest leaf area was obtained from the Cromwell hybrid – 35.1 thousand m2/ ha. The best grain potential was shown in the hybrids of Bodor and Frederico. Grain yields were 6.08 and 5.75 t/ha. The lowest grain yield was obtained when growing the Nestor hybrid – 4.02 t/ha.

Predicting the Optimum Corn Harvest Time via the Quantity of Dry Matter Determined with Vegetation Indices Obtained from Multispectral Field Imaging

Estimating the optimum harvest time and yield embodies an essential food security factor. Vegetation indices have proven to be an effective tool for widescale in-field plant health mapping. A drone-based multispectral camera then conveniently allows acquiring data on the condition of the plant. This article examines and discusses the relationships between vegetation indices and nutritiolnal values that have been determined via chemical analysis of plant samples collected in the field. In this context, emphasis is placed on the normalized difference red edge index (NDRE), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI), and nutritional values, such as those of dry matter. The relationships between the variables were correlated and described by means of regression models. This produced equations that are applicable for estimating the quantity of dry matter and thus determining the optimum corn harvest time. The obtained equations were validated on five different types of corn hybrids in fields within the South Moravian Region, Moravia, the Czech Republic.

Domestic three-component herbicide Arizona for the protection of corn crops in the central zone of the Krasnodar Territory

Field experiments were carried out to determine the biological and economic e ectiveness of the herbicide Arizona, OD (75 g/l mesotrion + 30 g/l nicosulfuron + 3.5 g/l orasulam), on crops of the hybrid corn Krasnodar 291 AMV in Krasnodar Krai. The experiments were carried out on the experimental eld of the Federal State Budgetary Scienti c Institution "Federal Research Center ofBiological Plant Protection" in 2020-2021 in accordance with the guidelines for testing herbicides in agriculture. The soil cover of the experimental plots is leached chernozem. The ow rate of the working uid is 200 l/ha. In the experiments, plots with an area of 25 m2 were used with a four-fold repetition with a randomized arrangement. The scheme of the experiment assumed the use of the tested herbicide Arizona, OD in the norms of 1.0 and 2.0 l/ha, standards Elumis, OD (2.0 l/ha) and Octave, OD (1.0 l/ha), control (without herbicides). During the period of 3…5 leaves of the culture, herbicides were applied. The initial contamination of corn crops averaged 125 copies/m2. The e ectiveness of the drugs was evaluated by reducing the number, mass of weeds and the di erence in the yield of grain crops in comparison with the option without the use of herbicides. The types of weeds in the experiments (ragweed sagebrush, сalifornia durnishnik, tilted schiritsa, bristly body, gray bristle, common hedgehog) demonstrated high sensitivity to the herbicide being tested. In the variants with the introduction of 1.0 and 2.0 l / ha of the drug Arizona, OD, an 82…100 % herbicidal e ect was observed without a negative e ect on the crop and a reliable preserved corn grain yield (87.0 and 102.2 %). The reference preparations for the e ectiveness of cereals were at the level of the tested preparation (2.0 l/ha), but were inferior in e ect to dicotyledonous weeds.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF HERBICIDES ON THE WEEDS AND THE PRODUCTIVITY OF HYBRIDS MAIZE

In the early stages of maize (Zea mays L.) development, it is important to limit weeds that compete with maize for nutrients, moisture, light. Weed control has various methods, for example, agrotechnical, chemical. The aim of the study is to evaluate of the Effects of Weeds and Hybrids on the Productivity of Maize grain in Ukraine. The research was conducted in field conditions in 2019-2021 at the Mykolayiv National Agrarian University, which is located in the southern steppe of Ukraine. The results of the study show that weeds significantly (P0.05) reduced the maize grain yield. During the grain harvesting period, the number of weeds in GS 89 decreased to 137 and 121 weeds m-2. In the experiment, the predominance of early summer weeds (more than 66%) over late summer weeds (about 49%) was found. Effective weed reduction requires the use of several agrotechnical elements. Grain yield of maize hybrids increased significantly in areas where herbicides were applied. The corn hybrid 'Gran 6' was more productive. Maize hybrid Gran 6 is 1.3 times more productive than maize hybrid Odesskii 385 МВ in all test variants, which was also influenced by the hybrids' biological differences: maize hybrid Gran 6 has a shorter vegetation period and is taller (on average 209.1 cm) than maize hybrid Odesskii 385 МВ, which is 198.0 cm tall on average. Moisture consumption differed in vegetation years (2019-2021), the highest was in 2021 (70.6%), when a higher corn grain yield was also established.

Yield tradeoffs of early corn harvest to enhance pennycress establishment

AbstractOilseed pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) establishment following grain corn (Zea mays L.) harvest in northern latitudes is challenging because of the short duration between corn harvest and soil freeze. The use of shorter season corn hybrids for a region may partly solve this challenge, but tradeoffs in reduced corn yield may be a concern. This study evaluated corn relative maturity (CRM) hybrids on pennycress establishment, seed and oil yields, and corn grain yield tradeoffs. The CRM hybrids ranged from 76‐ to 95‐day for northern sites (Morris and Rosemount, MN), and from 95‐ to 113‐day for the southern sites (Custar, OH, and Lexington, IL). The checks were full‐season corn (113‐ and 95‐day corn for the southern and the northern sites, respectively) harvested for silage. Pennycress plant density, green cover, and yield were generally greater when pennycress was seeded following silage corn due to early seeding and reduced corn stover. Pennycress seed yields ranged from 388 to 778, 641 to 834, 362 to 784, and 834 to 2038 kg ha−1 at Custar, Lexington, Morris, and Rosemount, respectively. The results showed that growing 86‐ and 105‐day grain corn in the northern and southern sites, respectively, facilitated timely pennycress establishment with little or no corn grain yield loss compared with full‐season hybrids. Developing pennycress varieties better suited for emergence under high corn stover or employing stover management practices to increase autumn emergence is suggested. Additionally, an economic analysis of the entire cropping sequence (corn–pennycress–soybean) is needed.

Corn-neem soil cover and neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) extract application for the Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) management in corn (Zea mays, L)

Objective: To evaluate the soil cover with corn-neem biomass for the Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) management in the INIAP H601 corn hybrid, at Pechiche, Los Ríos, Ecuador. Design/Methodology/Approach: Two treatments were evaluated: 1) a treatment using corn-neem soil cover at 2.0 t ha-1 before sowing, plus two foliar applications, 10 and 20 days after sowing; 2) a control treatment without soil cover, in a completely randomized design. The variables evaluated were the percentage of corn plants with 1st to 3rd degree damage and 4th to 5th degree damage (30 days after sowing), Leaf Area Index (LAI), and agricultural yield. Results: Under field conditions, both treatments had no significative differences in the 1st to 3rd degrees damages (69.0% impact). However, there were significative differences in the 4th to 5th degree damages (31.0 %) in the control and the soil cover (15.0 %). Additionally, LAI and dry grain yield were higher. There was a linear but inverse relationship regarding LAI and yield in plants with 4th to 5th degree damage. Limitations/Implications: The availability of neem tree biomass could be a limitation, if this technology is applied to larger land areas. Findings/Conclusions: Corn-neem soil cover plus a foliar application decreased the Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) impact and increased LAI and agricultural yield.

Growth and Production Response of Five Hybrid Maize Varieties to Application of Different Fertilizer Packages

This study aims to see the effect or response of five varieties of corn to the package of fertilizer doses observed from the growth and production. The research used a two-factor factorial experimental design in a Randomized Block Design, with 5 hybrid corn varieties as the first factor, namely varieties P21, P22, C9, C7 and Agricon, Urea, ZA, SP-36 and KCl fertilizers. Fertilization Package as the second factor was arranged with a combination of (1) Urea 350 + ZA 100 + SP-36 175 + KCl 75 kg ha-1, (2) Urea 250 + ZA 100 + SP-36 100 + KCl 50 kg ha-1, and (3) Urea 250 + ZA 100 kg ha-1 The results showed that there was an interaction between corn variety C7 and fertilization package 1 (350 urea + 100 ZA + 175 SP-36 + 75 KCl kg ha-1) on the addition of the best number of leaves which was 7,853 strands. Hybrid variety C9 gave the highest yield per hectare of 5.573 tons, and the fertilization package that gave the best results on corn production was fertilization package 3 (250 urea + 100 ZA kg ha-1) with an average grain yield per hectare of 5.07 tons.

Conteúdo de luteína e zeaxantina em milho importado de três países do continente americano e em milho cultivado em território colombiano

ABSTRACT Lutein and zeaxanthin are the major xanthophyll pigments found in corn kernels. These pigments provide the orange-red color of the broiler chicken skin and of the egg yolk. Therefore, knowing the corn xanthophyll content is important for the poultry feed producer. The objective of this study was to determine the lutein and the zeaxanthin content in corn cultivated in Colombia and in corn imported to Colombia from the United States, Argentina, and Brazil. Large differences in total lutein plus zeaxanthin content were found among the corn samples analyzed, with the highest mean level found in Colombian corn (2,758µg/100g), followed by Argentina (1,861µg/100g), United States (1,041µg/100g) and Brazil (947µg/100g). Large differences in lutein plus zeaxanthin content were also found among different corn hybrids cultivated in Colombia. Differences among geographical regions might be due to differences in UV-B radiation or in the light hours received by the crop during its growth. The differences among different corn hybrids might probably be due to genetic differences. Corn growers might be interested in cultivating hybrids higher in lutein and zeaxanthin as these pigments are very important in poultry production and human eye health.

Amilase exógena aumenta a produção de gases e melhora a cinética de digestão ruminal in vitro de grãos de sorgo e milho

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous amylase on gas production, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and in vitro digestion kinetics of sorghum (Sorghum vulgaris) and two corn hybrids of different grain textures. Ruminal fluid was collected from two rumen-fistulated cows receiving or not exogenous amylase (0.7g kg-1 of dry matter (DM basis)), provided to achieve 396 kilo Novo units kg-1 for amylase activity (DM basis). Gas production was measured after 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36, 42 e 48 hours of incubation. Amylase increased gas production (mL) by 5.4%. Corn hybrids have higher in vitro dry matter digestibility than sorghum. Exogenous amylase increased the potential of gas production (A) (P=0.01). There was an effect of hybrid for IVDMD (P&lt;0.01). The addition of exogenous amylase increases the in vitro gas production, improves fermentation kinetics, and increases the production of the ammonia nitrogen of corn and sorghum grains, but does not affect in vitro and dry matter digestibility or the short-chain fatty acids production.

Screening of acid-tolerant hybrid Corn lines and parents using modified acid mineral soil

Screening of hybrid corn parent lines quickly and cheaply compared to hydroponic methods in the laboratory is needed to support the assembly of new high yielding varieties of acid tolerant corn. Addition of CaCO3 as equivalent to 2 t/ha (normal soil), while 0.5 t/ha AlCl3 (acidic). A total of 12 elite maize lines were tested based on relative root growth (RRG). Four sets of experiments were made, namely 2 sets normal soil media (pH 6.5) and 2 sets acid soil media (pH 4.3). Experimental design used in each experimental set was a randomized block with three replications. Results showed that rapid screening of hybrid maize parental lines could be carried out using modified soil acidity method by adding CaCO3 and AlCl3 to acid soil by measuring relative root growth (RRG) as the main variable. Corn obtained by genotypes No.80, MAL03x192, and Bisi-18 were classified as tolerant, MAL03x28, MAL03x182, MAL03x42, MAL03x44, MAL03x107, MAL03x115 were classified as moderately tolerant, while MAL03x100, MAL03x56, classified as sensitive. Screening of hybrid parent lines on acid soil modified to pH 4.3 (acidic) and normal pH 6.5 at seedling age 7 days after planting (dap) was more accurate than at seedling age of maize 14 dap.