NUTRITIONAL AND ECONOMICAL EVALUATION OF CORN SILAGE CULTIVATED AT TWENTY AND THIRTY THOUSAND PLANTS PER FEDDAN

Abstract

his is study was conducted to evaluate the Corn hybrid single cross 10 (S.C. 10) was cultivated at two planting density rates of low density was 20 thousand plants per feddan (20TPF) or high density was 30 thousand plants per feddan (30TPF) as a silage through two digestibility trials were conducted using Rhmani rams to determine nutrients digestibility and nutritive values. The yield of corn crop and plant parts (ears, stems and leaves) were estimated for each sub-plots and calculated per feddan. Whole corn plants were harvested after 92 days of planting at the dough stage of maturity, chopped to 1-1.5 cm of length and ensiled in plastic bags for 35 days.. Representative samples of corn silage were analyzed for composition, fiber fractions and silage quality. Results revealed that high corn plant density showed significantly higher yield of fresh corn crop and TDN (P<0.05) and dry crop and CP and DCP (P<0.01), however, fresh and dry plant weight were lower significantly (P<0.01) compared to low plant density. The percentage of ears was significantly higher (P<0.01), however percentages of stems and leaves were significantly lower (P<0.05) for low plant density compared with high plant density. Low corn plant density revealed significantly higher contents of DM, OM (P<0.05), NFE and NFC (P<0.01) and lower contents of CP, ash (P<0.05), CF, NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose (P<0.001) with compared to high corn plant density. The concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA’s, P<0.05), lactic, propionic, isobutyric, isovaleric and valeric acids were higher, however, pH value and the concentrations of TVFA’s, NH3-N (P<0.05), acetic and butyric acids were lower in low plant density compared to high plant density silage. The DMI and digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, NFE and NFC and TDN value were significantly higher (P<0.05), however, the digestibility coefficients of CP, CF, EE, NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose and DCP value were significantly lower (P<0.05) for high plant density compared to low plant density corn silage. Ruminal pH value, the concentration of NH3-N (P<0.05) were lower, however, the concentrations of TVFA’s (P<0.05), propionic, isobutyric, isovaleric and valeric acids were higher with high corn plant density compared to low density corn silage. While, acetic and butyric acids concentrations were nearly similar. There were no significant differences in rent of land, cultivation cost and total cost between low and high plant density. Whereas, high corn plant density recorded higher output of silage yield and output improvement (P<0.01), net revenue and net revenue improvement (P<0.001) compared to low corn plant density.