Effects of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotype at Different Planting Densities on Herbage Mass Productivity and Silage Chemical Composition

Information regarding suitable maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes and plant density is needed for silage producers to produce high-quality silage. In the spring of 2022, a study was carried out to assess how different plant densities of maize hybrids affect the biomass yield and chemical composition of s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kajol Somai, Mohan Mahato, Mahesh Regmi, Udit Prakash Sigdel, Dikshya Bist, Hari Kumar Shrestha, Abdu Rahman Beshir, Shanker Raj Barsila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:International Journal of Agronomy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ioa/4064971
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849239302081347584
author Kajol Somai
Mohan Mahato
Mahesh Regmi
Udit Prakash Sigdel
Dikshya Bist
Hari Kumar Shrestha
Abdu Rahman Beshir
Shanker Raj Barsila
author_facet Kajol Somai
Mohan Mahato
Mahesh Regmi
Udit Prakash Sigdel
Dikshya Bist
Hari Kumar Shrestha
Abdu Rahman Beshir
Shanker Raj Barsila
author_sort Kajol Somai
collection DOAJ
description Information regarding suitable maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes and plant density is needed for silage producers to produce high-quality silage. In the spring of 2022, a study was carried out to assess how different plant densities of maize hybrids affect the biomass yield and chemical composition of silage. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design via a randomized completely block design with three replicates. The corresponding plant densities used as the main plots were 66,666 and 111,111 plants/ha (density). The maize genotypes included in the analysis as subplots were CAH–1715, RH–10, CAH–1511, RML–86/RML–96, CAH–196, and RML–95/RML–96. The maize was harvested and weighed for biomass yield and subsequently subjected to ensiling. A standard laboratory protocol was followed to evaluate the chemical composition of the ensiled maize genotypes. The results revealed that the energy content, pH, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and days to 50% tasseling and silking were all unaffected by genotype. The highest biomass (49.39 t/ha) and dry matter production (16.98 t/ha) were obtained for genotype CAH–1715. The crude protein (CP) content was greatest (9.86%) for the CAH–196 genotype. Similarly, different plant densities did not affect pH, energy, NDF, ADF, ear height, or plant height. The leaf area index, days to 50% tasseling and silking, biomass yield, and dry matter production significantly increased (p<0.05) with increasing plant density, whereas the leaf area per plant and CP decreased. These results indicated a decline in the nutritive quality of silage with increasing plant density. The study revealed that CAH–1715, with a plant density of 111,111 plants/ha, was suitable for making silage with a high biomass output, although a lower plant density might be suitable for silage of greater quality. However, silage quality is yet to be explored in detail.
format Article
id doaj-art-62e929f0a0a24a5f8a030f86f69906de
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-8167
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Agronomy
spelling doaj-art-62e929f0a0a24a5f8a030f86f69906de2025-08-20T04:01:03ZengWileyInternational Journal of Agronomy1687-81672025-01-01202510.1155/ioa/4064971Effects of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotype at Different Planting Densities on Herbage Mass Productivity and Silage Chemical CompositionKajol Somai0Mohan Mahato1Mahesh Regmi2Udit Prakash Sigdel3Dikshya Bist4Hari Kumar Shrestha5Abdu Rahman Beshir6Shanker Raj Barsila7Agriculture and Forestry UniversitySouth Asia Regional Office (SARO)Prime-Minister Agriculture Modernization Project (PMAMP)Agriculture and Forestry UniversityAgriculture and Forestry UniversityLaxmi Multipurpose Farmers’ GroupSouth Asia Regional Office (SARO)Agriculture and Forestry UniversityInformation regarding suitable maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes and plant density is needed for silage producers to produce high-quality silage. In the spring of 2022, a study was carried out to assess how different plant densities of maize hybrids affect the biomass yield and chemical composition of silage. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design via a randomized completely block design with three replicates. The corresponding plant densities used as the main plots were 66,666 and 111,111 plants/ha (density). The maize genotypes included in the analysis as subplots were CAH–1715, RH–10, CAH–1511, RML–86/RML–96, CAH–196, and RML–95/RML–96. The maize was harvested and weighed for biomass yield and subsequently subjected to ensiling. A standard laboratory protocol was followed to evaluate the chemical composition of the ensiled maize genotypes. The results revealed that the energy content, pH, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and days to 50% tasseling and silking were all unaffected by genotype. The highest biomass (49.39 t/ha) and dry matter production (16.98 t/ha) were obtained for genotype CAH–1715. The crude protein (CP) content was greatest (9.86%) for the CAH–196 genotype. Similarly, different plant densities did not affect pH, energy, NDF, ADF, ear height, or plant height. The leaf area index, days to 50% tasseling and silking, biomass yield, and dry matter production significantly increased (p<0.05) with increasing plant density, whereas the leaf area per plant and CP decreased. These results indicated a decline in the nutritive quality of silage with increasing plant density. The study revealed that CAH–1715, with a plant density of 111,111 plants/ha, was suitable for making silage with a high biomass output, although a lower plant density might be suitable for silage of greater quality. However, silage quality is yet to be explored in detail.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ioa/4064971
spellingShingle Kajol Somai
Mohan Mahato
Mahesh Regmi
Udit Prakash Sigdel
Dikshya Bist
Hari Kumar Shrestha
Abdu Rahman Beshir
Shanker Raj Barsila
Effects of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotype at Different Planting Densities on Herbage Mass Productivity and Silage Chemical Composition
International Journal of Agronomy
title Effects of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotype at Different Planting Densities on Herbage Mass Productivity and Silage Chemical Composition
title_full Effects of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotype at Different Planting Densities on Herbage Mass Productivity and Silage Chemical Composition
title_fullStr Effects of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotype at Different Planting Densities on Herbage Mass Productivity and Silage Chemical Composition
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotype at Different Planting Densities on Herbage Mass Productivity and Silage Chemical Composition
title_short Effects of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotype at Different Planting Densities on Herbage Mass Productivity and Silage Chemical Composition
title_sort effects of maize zea mays l genotype at different planting densities on herbage mass productivity and silage chemical composition
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ioa/4064971
work_keys_str_mv AT kajolsomai effectsofmaizezeamayslgenotypeatdifferentplantingdensitiesonherbagemassproductivityandsilagechemicalcomposition
AT mohanmahato effectsofmaizezeamayslgenotypeatdifferentplantingdensitiesonherbagemassproductivityandsilagechemicalcomposition
AT maheshregmi effectsofmaizezeamayslgenotypeatdifferentplantingdensitiesonherbagemassproductivityandsilagechemicalcomposition
AT uditprakashsigdel effectsofmaizezeamayslgenotypeatdifferentplantingdensitiesonherbagemassproductivityandsilagechemicalcomposition
AT dikshyabist effectsofmaizezeamayslgenotypeatdifferentplantingdensitiesonherbagemassproductivityandsilagechemicalcomposition
AT harikumarshrestha effectsofmaizezeamayslgenotypeatdifferentplantingdensitiesonherbagemassproductivityandsilagechemicalcomposition
AT abdurahmanbeshir effectsofmaizezeamayslgenotypeatdifferentplantingdensitiesonherbagemassproductivityandsilagechemicalcomposition
AT shankerrajbarsila effectsofmaizezeamayslgenotypeatdifferentplantingdensitiesonherbagemassproductivityandsilagechemicalcomposition