HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Darby, H. M. Articles by Lauer, J. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Darby, H. M. Articles by Lauer, J. G. Agricola Articles by Darby, H. M. Articles by Lauer, J. G. Related Collections Forage Management Maize Maize Management

PRODUCTION PAPER

Harvest Date and Hybrid Influence on Corn Forage Yield, Quality, and Preservation

^a Dep. of Hortic., Oregon State Univ., 4017 ALS, Corvallis, OR 97331
^b Dep. of Agron., Univ. of Wisconsin, 1575 Linden Dr., Moore Hall, Madison, WI 53706

* Corresponding author (darbyh{at}bcc.orst.edu)

Received for publication January 9, 2001. The selection of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids and the timing of harvest are important management considerations for dairy and livestock operations. Objectives of this study were to determine the effect of harvest date on yield and quality of corn hybrids and to describe the relationship between harvest date and the yield and quality of corn forage, silage, and stover. During 1998 and 1999, four hybrids were harvested at eight different harvest times between 521 and 1224 growing degree units (GDUs) after planting. Few hybrid or hybrid x harvest date effects were observed. As GDUs accumulated, dry matter yield increased from 8 to 25 Mg ha^-1. Lowest concentrations of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and highest concentrations of in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) occurred when forage was harvested between 700 and 650 g kg^-1 moisture (1025 and 1186 GDUs after planting). Potential milk yield indices of milk Mg^-1 corn forage (794 kg) and milk ha^-1 corn forage (19049 Mg) were reached when corn was harvested between 670 and 630 g kg^-1 moisture. In general, silage had 15% lower concentrations of NDF, 8% lower IVTD, 48% lower cell wall digestibility, 7% lower crude protein, and 15% higher concentrations of ADF than unfermented fresh forage. Harvesting can be accomplished until 580 g kg^-1 moisture while maintaining 95% of the maximum yield and milk ha^-1.

Abbreviations: ADF, acid detergent fiber • CP, crude protein • CWD, cell wall digestibility • GDUs, growing degree units • IVTD, in vitro true digestibility • NDF, neutral detergent fiber • NIRS, near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy • RM, relative maturity rating

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. J. Frey, J. G. Coors, R. D. Shaver, J. G. Lauer, D. T. Eilert, and P. J. Flannery Selection for Silage Quality in the Wisconsin Quality Synthetic and Related Maize Populations Crop Sci., July 1, 2004; 44(4): 1200 - 1208. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]