Authors : O.N. Di Marco, M.S. Aello and A. Chicatun
Abstract: Plant weight, morphological components and in situ Dry Matter (DM) degradability of leaves, stems and tissues of stems (rind and pith tissues) were investigated in a rain fed or irrigated corn crop at the time of ensiling. The crop was sown at a density of 8 plants m 2 in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plants were harvested at half milk line and weights of ears, grains, husks, cobs, stems, leaves, rind and pith tissues (DM base) were determined in four plants/plot. Ground (2 mm) samples (5 g DM) of leaves, stems, rind and pith tissues were incubated (nylon bags of 10x20 cm) in three ruminal fistulated heifers for periods of 0, 12 and 24 h. Data of the three heifers were averages and the intercept (soluble fraction) and slope (degradation rate) of each fraction was estimated by linear regression. Plant and in situ data were analyzed as a completely randomized block design with three replications. Irrigation increased plant DM yield (259 to 350 g) and grain production (110 to 158 g) per plant. However, it did not affect the content of grain in the plant (43%) or the content of leaves (38%) and stems (32%) in the stover. Neither the 24 h in situ degradability of leaves (44%) and stems (25%) was affected. It was concluded that irrigation increased DM yield by approximately 35%, without affecting the stover morphological composition, the grain to stover ratio and the in situ DM degradability of leaves, stems and stem tissues.
Di Marco, O.N. , M.S. Aello and A. Chicatun , 2007. Effect of Irrigation on Corn Plant Dry Matter Yield, Morphological Components and Ruminal Degradability of Leaves and Stems . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 8-11.