Growth performance, biomass yield and chemical composition of 10 varieties of maize (Zea mays L.) cultivated as forages in Thua Thien Hue province
The study on growth performance, yield of green biomass and nutritional composition of 10 varieties of maize was conducted at the Institute for Research and Development, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University in the spring season of 2020. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design, consisting of 3 blocks and each block has 10 plots corresponding to 10 varieties arranged randomly. The size of each plot is 12 m2, with the density of plants at 0.7 x 0.2 meters. The results showed that the days of flowering, milk stage, doughstage and dent stage were different between varities (P<0.05). Plant height of hybrid maize varieties varied from 182.53 cm to 215.93 cm (P<0.05), stem diameter from 1.90 cm to 2.09 cm and there was no difference between varieties. The number of leaves per plant of varieties varied (P<0.05) from 15.80 to 18.66 leaves. The average area of the 10th leaf of plants also varied (P<0.05) from 351.2 cm2 to 609.9 cm2. Average weight of plants at different stages of milk, dough and dent were significant difference (P<0.05). Green biomass yield of varieties at milk stage from 40.325 tons/ha to 46.286 tons/ha; at dough stage from 44.220 tons/ha to 50.960 tons/ha; and at dent stage from 40.073 tons/ha to 44.852 tons/ha. The DM, NDF and ADF components do not differ between varieties, DM from 27.88% to 30.49%; NDF from 58.33% to 66.0% and ADF from 33.09% to 37.63%. The amount of CP and total ash had significant differences between varieties (P<0.05), CP from 5.62% to 7.65% and total ash from 6.26% to 7.46%. The hybrid maize varieties TA2, TA3, TA4, TA5, TA6 and TA9 are potential for fodder production in Thua Thien Hue province.
