Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-03T18:17:48.418Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The question of grain content and forage quality in maize: comparisons between isogenic fertile and sterile plants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

E. S. Bunting
E. S. Bunting
Affiliation:
Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Results are presented from four experiments in which comparisons were made between isogenic sterile and fertile plants of maize to study the effects of grain content on yield and quality of shoot dry matter. In two experiments comparisons were made over a range of densities, extending from 5 to 25 plants/m2 in 1972 and 5 to 20 plants/m2 in 1973. The other two experiments, grown in 1974 at a density of 10 plants/m2, were sampled 30, 60 and 90 days after flowering.

In 1972 and 1973 yield of shoot dry material was about 10% higher in fertile plants at the lowest density, 5 plants/m2, but grain formation had a negligible effect at higher densities. In 1974, at 10 plants/m2, the yield advantage for fertile plants was 6–7%. These results are in line with other European data, but show a much smaller effect of grain formation on shoot dry matter yield than is normally recorded in USA trials. The discrepancies probably reflect differences in environmental conditions.

Absence of grain had little effect on contents of nitrogen, ash and in vitro digestible dry matter, and increased content of pepsin soluble material and hot water soluble carbohydrates. Percentage content of dry matter in the shoot was higher in fertile plants in 1973, and during the later stages of crop development in 1974.

The results suggest that the importance attached to high grain content as an essential requirement for yield and quality in forage maize is exaggerated, and that the restriction of maize breeding and testing programmes to assessments of grain production, in the belief that the best grain varieties will also be best for forage, can no longer be justified in northern European countries.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 85 , Issue 3 , December 1975 , pp. 455 - 463
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bechdel, S. I. (1926). Quality of silage for milk production as affected by stage of maturity of corn. Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 207.Google Scholar
Bloc, D. (1971). La production du mais fourrage. Bulletin Technique d'Information No. 264–5, pp. 979–86.Google Scholar
Bowden, D. M., Freyman, S. & McLaughlin, N. B. (1973). Comparison of nutritive value of silage from a tillering and a non-tillering hybrid corn. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 53, 817–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bryant, H. T., Blaser, R. E., Hammer, R. C. & Huber, J. T. (1966). Evaluation of corn silage harvested at two stages of maturity. Agronomy Journal 58, 253–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bunting, E. S. & Gunn, R. E. (1974). Maize in Britain – a survey of research and breeding. Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge, Anmial Report 1973, pp. 32–74.Google Scholar
Chesneau, J. C. (1971). Pour bien réussir la culture du mais-ensilage. Cultivar, No. 28, 1–5.Google Scholar
Coppock, C. E. & Stone, J. B. (1968). Corn silage in the ration of dairy cattle: a review. New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell Miscellaneous Bulletin 89.Google Scholar
Craig, J. & Hooker, A. L. (1961). Relation of sugar trends and pith density to Diplodia stalk rot in dent corn. Phytopathology 51, 376–82.Google Scholar
Cummins, D. G. & McCullough, M. E. (1971). Comparison of male sterile and male fertile corn for silage. Agronomy Journal 63, 46–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Demarquilly, C. (1973). Composition ohimique, valeur nutritive et ingestibilité pour le ruminant des différentes formes de mais. L'Élevage. Numéro hors série ‘Le Mais’, pp. 146–7.Google Scholar
Demarquilly, C., Haurez, Ph., Journet, M., Lelong, C. & Malterre, C. (1971). Le mais plante entière: composition, valeur alimentaire, utilisation par les bovins. Bulletin Technique d'Information, 264/5, pp. 1001–18.Google Scholar
Fairbairn, N. J. (1953). A modified Anthrone reagent. Chemistry and Industry, p. 86.Google Scholar
Fisher, L. J., Logan, V. S., Donovan, L. S. & Carson, R. B. (1968). Factors influencing dry matter intake and utilization of corn silage by lactating cows. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 48, 207–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Focke, R., Franzke, W. & Winkel, A. (1966). Trockenstubstanz-zucker-und proteinbildung in befruchtetem und nicht befruchtetem mais. Albrech- Thaer-Archiv 10, 585–600.Google Scholar
Genter, C. F. (1960). Corn and other crops for silage in Virginia. Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 516.Google Scholar
Goering, H. K., Hemken, R. W., Clark, N. A. & Vandersall, J. H. (1969). Intake and digestibility of corn silage of different maturities, varieties and plant populations. Journal of Animal Science 29, 512–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gunn, R. E. & Hooper, B. (1975). PBI Annual Report 1974 (in the Press).Google Scholar
Harris, C. E. (1965). The digestibility of fodder maize and maize silage. Experimental Agriculture 1, 121–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hemken, R. W., Clark, N. A., Goering, H. K. & Vandersall, J. H. (1971). Nutritive value of corn silage as influenced by grain content. Journal of Dairy Science 54, 383–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hopper, T. H. (1925). Composition and maturity of corn. North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 192.Google Scholar
Huber, J. T., Graf, G. C. & Engel, R. W. (1965). Effect of maturity on nutritive value of corn silage for lactating cows. Journal of Dairy Science 48, 1121–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, R. R. & McClure, K. E. (1968). Corn plant maturity. IV. Effects on digestibility of corn silage in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 27, 535–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, W. J. & Huston, H. A. (1914). Composition of maize at various stages of its growth. Purdue Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 175.Google Scholar
Kiesselbach, T. A. (1948). Endosperm type as a physiologic factor in corn yields. Journal of American Society of Agronomy 40, 216–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, C. C., Thompson, D. L. & Burns, J. C. (1972). Plant component yield and cell contents of an adapted and a tropical corn. Crop Science 12, 446–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marten, G. C. & Westerberg, P. M. (1972). Maize fodder – influence of barrenness on yield and quality. Crop Science 12, 367–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matsushima, J. K. (1971). Quality factors in corn and sorghum silage. Proceedings 26th Annual Corn and Sorghum Research Conference, pp. 83–95.Google Scholar
Morrison, F. B. (1956). Feeds and Feeding. New York: Ithaca.Google Scholar
Mortimore, C. G. & Ward, G. M. (1964). Root and stalk rot of corn in south western Ontario. III. Sugar levels as a measure of plant vigour and resistance. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 44, 451–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moss, D. N. (1962). Photosynthesis and barrenness. Crop Science 2, 366–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mowat, D. N., Macleod, G. K., Pos, J., Stone, J. B., & Young, W. S. & Bellman, H. E. (1967). Corn silages. Ontario Department of Agriculture, Publication 92.Google Scholar
Nevens, W. B. (1933). Types and varieties of corn for silage. Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 391.Google Scholar
Nevens, W. B. & Duncan, G. H. (1942). Yields of corn hybrids harvested for silage and best time to harvest. Illinois Agricultural Experimental Station, Bulletin 494.Google Scholar
Ands, Nether (1972). Snijmais. Min. van Landbouw en Visserij, Vlugschrift voor de landbouw nr. 192.Google Scholar
Nicholson, J. W. G. (1971). A selection index for evaluating corn varieties for silage. Canadex 111. 72.Google Scholar
Noller, C. H., Burns, J. C., Hill, D. L., Rhykerd, C. L. & Rumsey, T. S. (1965). Chemical composition of green and preserved forages and the nutritional implications. International Grassland Congress, Sao-Paulo, Brazil, Proc. 9, pp. 611–14.Google Scholar
Raymond, W. F. (1969). Nutritive value of forage crops. Advances in Agronomy 21, 1–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rintelen, P. (1971). Aufarbeitung des Erntegütes. In Mais. Ein Handbuch über Produklionstechnik und Okonomic. Munchen: BLV Verlagsgesellschaft, pp. 196–218.Google Scholar
Rogers, H. H. & Whitmore, E. T. (1966). A modified method for the in vitro determination of herbage digestibility in plant breeding studies. Journal of the British Grassland Society 21, 150–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roth, L. S., Marten, G. C, Compton, W. A. & Stuthman, D. D. (1970). Genetic variations of quality traits in maize forage. Crop Science 10, 365–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rutger, J. N. (1969). Relationship of corn silage yields to maturity. Agronomy Journal 61, 68–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmid, A. R., Marten, G. C. & Roth, L. S. (1969). Effect of N supplementation on in vitro digestibility of corn, sorghum and alfalfa. Agronomy Journal 61, 20–1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strobl, G. (1973). Zur Futterungsintensität bei der Mast von Bullen mit Maissilage. Bayerisches Land-wirtschafliches Jahrbuch 50, 910–90.Google Scholar
Thomson, A. J. & Rogers, H. H. (1968). Yield and quality components in maize grown for silage. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 71, 393–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verite, R., Hoden, A. & Journet, M. (1971). Avec un bon ensilage de mais les vaches laitières consomment moins d'aliment concentré. L'Élevage, numéro hors serie. ‘Le Mais’, pp. 157–63.Google Scholar
Voldeng, H. D. (1971). Factors affecting the growth of Zea mays. D.Phil. Thesis, Oxford.Google Scholar
Waldern, D. E. (1972). Effects of supplemental hay on consumption of low and medium dry matter corn silage by high producing cows. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 52, 491–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
White, G. C, Chapman, L. M., Slate, W. L. & Brown, B. A. (1924). A comparison of early, medium and late maturing varieties of corn silage for milk production. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 121.Google Scholar
Zscheischler, J. & Gross, F. (1966). Mais. Anbau und Verwertung. Frankfurt (Main): DLG-Verlag.Google Scholar