TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of defoliation on whole-plant maize characteristics as forage and energy crop
AU - Bani, Paolo
AU - Grecchi, Isabella
AU - Ahmed, Sadek
AU - Ficuciello, Valentina
AU - Calamari, Luigi
AU - Tabaglio, Vincenzo
AU - Minuti, Andrea
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Hail affects yield and quality of maize crops, and consequences also depend on the growth stage at which the injury occurred. Whole-plant maize (WPM) silage is often used within the same farm for cattle feeding and biogas production. The present study aimed to verify the effects of hail damage, simulated by artificial defoliation, on yield and chemical and nutritional features, as well as on biochemical methane potential (BMP) of maize forage. In a randomized block design with three replicates, four defoliation levels (0%, 33%, 66% and 100% of leaf area removal respectively) have been applied at either the V12 (12th leaf), R1 (silking) or R3 (milk) stages for two consecutive years. WPM yield, chemical and nutritional features, and BMP were measured. Dry-matter (DM) yield per hectare was progressively reduced (p < 0.001) with increasing levels of defoliation and with application at V12 in comparison with R1 or R3 (1.26 vs. 1.39 and 1.46 kg ha −1 for V12 vs. R1 and R3; p < 0.003). Nutritive value and BMP per unit of product were less altered than dry-matter yield per hectare by defoliation. Anticipating defoliation reduced net energy for lactation (5.26 vs. 5.46 MJ kg −1 DM for V12 and R3 respectively; p = 0.02). Total defoliation resulted in an accumulation of nitrates (NO 3 ) compared to the other treatments (3.98 vs. 1.53 g NO 3 kg −1 DM; p < 0.001). BMP was mainly reduced by early and complete defoliation. Equations were developed to estimate the effects of defoliation on yield, composition, and nutritive and energetic values of WPM.
AB - Hail affects yield and quality of maize crops, and consequences also depend on the growth stage at which the injury occurred. Whole-plant maize (WPM) silage is often used within the same farm for cattle feeding and biogas production. The present study aimed to verify the effects of hail damage, simulated by artificial defoliation, on yield and chemical and nutritional features, as well as on biochemical methane potential (BMP) of maize forage. In a randomized block design with three replicates, four defoliation levels (0%, 33%, 66% and 100% of leaf area removal respectively) have been applied at either the V12 (12th leaf), R1 (silking) or R3 (milk) stages for two consecutive years. WPM yield, chemical and nutritional features, and BMP were measured. Dry-matter (DM) yield per hectare was progressively reduced (p < 0.001) with increasing levels of defoliation and with application at V12 in comparison with R1 or R3 (1.26 vs. 1.39 and 1.46 kg ha −1 for V12 vs. R1 and R3; p < 0.003). Nutritive value and BMP per unit of product were less altered than dry-matter yield per hectare by defoliation. Anticipating defoliation reduced net energy for lactation (5.26 vs. 5.46 MJ kg −1 DM for V12 and R3 respectively; p = 0.02). Total defoliation resulted in an accumulation of nitrates (NO 3 ) compared to the other treatments (3.98 vs. 1.53 g NO 3 kg −1 DM; p < 0.001). BMP was mainly reduced by early and complete defoliation. Equations were developed to estimate the effects of defoliation on yield, composition, and nutritive and energetic values of WPM.
KW - Agronomy and Crop Science
KW - Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
KW - defoliation
KW - energy crop
KW - forage
KW - growth stage
KW - whole-plant maize
KW - Agronomy and Crop Science
KW - Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
KW - defoliation
KW - energy crop
KW - forage
KW - growth stage
KW - whole-plant maize
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/133801
UR - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(issn)1365-2494
U2 - 10.1111/gfs.12397
DO - 10.1111/gfs.12397
M3 - Article
SN - 0142-5242
VL - 74
SP - 65
EP - 77
JO - Grass and Forage Science
JF - Grass and Forage Science
ER -