Two maize hybrid cultivars, early (Cisko FAO 300) and late maturing (Arma FAO 700), were sown on three different dates (March, April or May) and harvested at two stages of maturity (kernel milk line (ML) scores of 1/4 < ML < 1/3 or 1/2 < ML < 2/3) in the western Po plain (Italy) in 2008. Yield, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility and fermentation kinetics of pre-ensiled whole-crop maize and of silage were measured. Cultivar and sowing date influenced the dry matter (DM) yield of whole-plant maize, with DM yield being 40% higher in Arma than in Cisko, and DM yield decreasing with later sowing dates. Later maturity increased DM concentration at harvest for both hybrids, due to differences in kernel development. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content declined and starch increased as plants matured. Digestibility was estimated in vitro following the Ankom procedure. Rate and extent of ruminal degradation were estimated from gas production (GP) profiles during incubation in diluted rumen fluid. Cultivar, planting date and maturity had no effect on in vitro DM digestibility of pre-ensiled whole-crop maize, but following 240 days of ensiling significant differences between cultivars in digestibility were detected. GP kinetic parameters differed between cultivars for pre-ensiled whole-crop maize, with Cisko having higher asymptotic GP but lower fractional fermentation rates and longer lag times than the Arma hybrid. GP volumes were greater as sowing or harvest dates were delayed. Energy value and milk production were estimated using the Milk2006 Model. With the pre-ensiled whole-crop maize, a 38% greater milk yield/ha was expected with Arma than with Cisko, matching the 40% greater DM yield. The same trend was observed in maize silage, where cultivar and planting date affected milk production/ha, with greater values for Arma than for Cisko and lower values for the latest planting date. Optimal management practices, including decision making on planting and harvest time and hybrid cultivar selection, can influence the yield and nutritive value of maize silage.

/pdf/influence-of-cultivar-sowing-date-and-maturity-at-harvest-on-1a8pzyo7gd.pdf

Influence of cultivar, sowing date and maturity at harvest on yield, digestibility, rumen fermentation kinetics and estimated feeding value of maize silage

Drought-tolerant maize varieties belonging to two different maturity (10 early and 10 late/intermediate) groups
were evaluated for yield and other related characters in the southern Guinea savanna (SGS) of Nigeria for two years (2009
and 2010). The differences among genotypes between and within maturity groups differed significantly (P<0.01) for grain
yield, plant height, days to anthesis and silk. The effect of year x maturity group and year x maturity within group interactions
was highly significant (P<0.01) only for grain yield. The rainfall patterns were favourable in both cropping years with
comparable values of growth parameters. Late/intermediate maturing varieties (TZL COMP1-W C6 F2, SUWAN-1-SR-SYN, TZB-SR, OBA SUPER I, EV 8435-SR) out-yielded early maturing ones with yield advantage of 34.29%
and taller by 17.04% compared to early ones. However, early varieties were early to anthesis with 6.57% advantage over
late/intermediate cultivars. Four early varieties (DMR-ESR Y CIF2, AC 90 POOL 16 DT, STR, TZE-W DT STR C4 and
ACR 95TZE COMP4 C3) were superior for grain yield withn a range of 4.39 to 4.68 t/ha. These genotypes could be used
either as cultivar per se to escape the prolonged moisture stress during the later part of the cropping season or introgressed
with favourable cultivars for high yield adaptable to drought-prone areas in the southern Guinea savanna agro-ecology.
Keywords Maize yield, early varieties, late/intermediate varieties, maturity group

/pdf/evaluation-of-early-and-late-intermediate-maize-varieties-c35q50l85s.pdf

Evaluation of early and late/intermediate maize varieties for grain yield potential and adaptation to a southern Guinea savanna agro-ecology of Nigeria

Application of farmyard manure (FYM) alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers helps in proper nutrition and maintenance of soil fertility in maize fields when applied at proper doses replenishing the most deficient macro and micro nutrients which in turn help in getting the highest grain yield and harvest index in hybrid maize varieties. The harvest index determines how many photosynthates are transformed into economic yield. It is the ratio of economic yields to biological yield. A study was conducted at the Haramaya University Chiro Campus to determine the effect of enriched FYM and inorganic fertilizers on grain yield of maize and harvest index. FYM was used either alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers as follows: control (zero fertilizers and FYM), 10 tons/ha FYM, 8 tons/ha FYM and 25 kg/ha of (Nitrogen (N) + 20 kg/ha Potassium (P), 6 tons/ha FYM, 50 kg/ha N + 40 kg/ha P, 4 tons/ha FYM, 75 kg/ha N + 60 kg/ha P, 2t ons/ha FYM , 100 kg/ha N+80 kg/ha P 100 kg/ha N + 100 kg/ha P. The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications from 2008 to 2010. Result from the combined analysis of variance on hybrid maize (BH-140) yield and harvest index over years showed the presence of no significant difference among treatments with 10 tons/ha FYM and 100 kg/ha N +100 kg P/ha (p < 0.05). The pooled analysis of variance over years also revealed the existence of no significant differences among Treatments 2, 6, and 7 viz (10 t/ha FYM + 0 N and P, 2 t/ha FYM and 100 kg/ha N + 80 kg/ha P and100 kg/ha N + 100 kg/ha P), respectively at (p < 0.05) on grain yield of hybrid maize (BH-140) and the harvest index. But 4 tons/ha FYM and 75 kg/ha N + 60kg/ha P increased maize yield from 5.1 tons/ha in 2009 to 8.15 tons/ha in 2010. Similarly, the harvest index has increased from 0.33 to 0.58 (33 to 58%) at this rate. From this finding it was noted that, enriching FYM with inorganic fertilizers can boost hybrid maize grain yield significantly through improving the physico-chemical properties of the soil and contribute to the highest value of harvest index. Therefore, on the basis of these results, it can be concluded that, enriched FYM could be used for hybrid maize production at western Hararghe in order to get maximum grain yield and the highest value of the harvest index. Thus, it is recommended that, application of 4 tons/ha FYM incorporated with 75 kg of N and 60 kg of P at Chiro can significantly increase hybrid maize (BH-140) yield and sustain its productivity over years. Besides, it also contributes in reducing the cost of inorganic fertilizers which has been a bottle neck to smallholder farmers of eastern Ethiopia. However, profitability of this technology needs to be tested at different locations and in different seasons.

	Key words: Farmyard manure, soil fertility, hybrid maize (bh-140), harvest index, inorganic fertilizers, biological yield, photosynthates.

/pdf/effect-of-enriched-farmyard-manure-and-inorganic-fertilizers-2476lviqwl.pdf

Effect of enriched farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizers on grain yield and harvest index of hybrid maize (bh-140) at Chiro, eastern Ethiopia

Agronomic biofortification is one of the main strategies for alleviation of micronutrient deficiencies in human populations and promoting sustainable production of food and feed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N)fertilization on biofortification of maize crop (Zea mays L.) with zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) grown on a micronutrient deficient soil under greenhouse conditions. Factorial design experiment was set under greenhouse conditions. The experiment consisted of two levels of each N, Zn, Fe and Se. The levels for N were 125 and 250 mg N kg−1 soil; Zn were 1 and 5 mg Zn kg−1 soil; levels of Fe were 0 and 10 mg Fe kg−1 soil; levels of Se were 0 and 0.02 mg Se kg−1 soil. An additional experiment was also conducted to study the effect of the Zn form applied as a ZnO or ZnSO4 on shoot growth, shoot Zn concentration and total shoot Zn uptake per plant. Shoot Zn concentrations increased by increasing soil Zn application both with ZnSO4 and ZnO treatments, but the shoot Zn concentration and total Zn uptake were much greater with ZnSO4 than the ZnO application. Under given experimental conditions, increasing soil N supply improved shoot N concentration; but had little effect on shoot dry matter production. The concentrations of Zn and Fe in shoots were significantly increased by increasing N application. In case of total uptake of Zn and Fe, the positive effect of N nutrition was more pronounced. Although Se soil treatment had significant effect, N application showed no effect on Se concentration and accumulation in maize shoots. The obtained results show that N fertilization is an effective tool in improving the Zn and Fe status of silage maize and contribute to the better-quality feed.

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/391/pdf

Biofortification of Silage Maize with Zinc, Iron and Selenium as Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of moulds that represent a significant
 food safety issue and pose a risk to health and wellbeing of humans and
 animals, having a negative impact on economies all over the world. They can
 cause intoxication in animals and affect the less productive performance and
 nutritional value of animal feed. Also, mycotoxins may contaminate different
 types of food through directly and indirectly way and cause negative health
 effects in humans. To estimate the potential of their harmful effect it is
 necessary to know the terms of mycotoxins occurrence and frequency, toxicity
 and biotransformation in different animal species and humans, possibility of
 contamination prevention, and their inactivation or reduction in the case
 when the incidence is inevitable. The relatively small number of comparable
 data on the incidence of mycotoxins in feed from European countries show the
 necessity of systematic control and the application of validated analytical
 methods in their determination. This paper gives the overview of incidence
 of grains and feed contamination with most important and common mycotoxins
 and the evidenced toxic effects in animals.

/pdf/mycotoxins-in-grains-and-feed-contamination-and-toxic-effect-4ovvr7atpn.pdf

V. Randjelovi

Papers

Genotype and Year Effect on Grain Yield and Nutritive Values of Maize (Zea mays L.)