Evaluation of Maize Accessions for Nutrients Composition, Forage and Silage Yields: Critical Overview | Chapter 6 | Research and Development in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3

 

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the yield of forage, silage and nutrients composition of two
maize accessions: West Atlantic Seed Alliance 1 (WASA1) and an accession from Shika tagged
(SHIMAZ). The maize seeds were planted in plots of 5 m x 5 m (25 m2) size with four replicates for
each accession. The results showed that, there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference between the
accessions for plant height and number of leaves at 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after sowing (WAS), but leaf
area index (LAI) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in SHIMAZ accession at 6 and 10 WAS. The
number of leaves per plant, green leaves, leaf area and forage yield at 91, 105 and 119 days after
sowing (DAS) were not significant (P > 0.05) in the two accessions of maize, but leaf area and LAI
were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in WASA1 accession. The percentage dry-matter (DM) content
was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in WASA1, although leaf, and stem ratios were significantly (P <
0.01) higher at various stages of harvest. The crude protein (CP) and nitrogen free-extract (NFE) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in WASA1 accession while crude fibre (CF) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in SHIMAZ. The proximate components (ash, EE and CP) and NDF were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in WASA1 silage, but NFE and ADF were higher (P < 0.05) in SHIMAZ accession.

Author (s) Details

Professor J. T. Amodu
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. T. T. Akpensuen
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. D. D. Dung
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. R. J. Tanko
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. A. Musa
International Livestock Research Institute, Kano, Nigeria.

S. A. Abubakar
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. M. R. Hassan
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. J. O. Jegede
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

I. Sani
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.

View Book :- http://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/266