Effect of harvesting time on forage yield and quality of maize

• Main Authors: Mandić Violeta, Bijelić Zorica, Krnjaja Vesna, Simić Aleksandar, Petričević Maja, Mićić Nenad, Caro-Petrović Violeta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade 2018-01-01
• Series: Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1450-9156/2018/1450-91561803345M.pdf

Maize is the very important silage source in the world. Timely harvesting ensure high maize forage yield and quality. Therefore, the study focused on the effects of four harvesting times (starting at the 12 August every 7 days) on yield and qualitative parameters of forage green mass of maize hybrid ZP 677. The experiment was set in Vojvodina Province, Serbia, during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, ear percentage, forage yield, dry matter content and crude protein content were higher, while stem percentage was lower in 2014 with favorable climatic condition. Forage yield, crude protein content, ADF and NDF decreased, while dry matter content significantly increased with delay in harvesting. The maize hybrid should be harvested when the milk line is three-quarter of the way down the grain that is in the third decade of August.