Influence of Varieties and Spacings on Growth, Biomass Yield and Nutritional Value of Corn Silage in Paddy Field

Abstract The objectives of the experiment were to determine plant spacing and variety to produce the suitable growth, yield components, biomass yield of field corn and nutritional value of corn silage in paddy field condition. The field experiment was conducted at the Lopburi Research Station, Khok Charoen district, Lopburi province, Thailand in 2018-2019 and was arranged in a split plot design in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications. The main plot contained 3 plant spacings viz. 75×15, 75×20 and 75×25 cm and sub plot consisted of 5 field corn varieties (CP888, NS3, S7328, SW4452 and SW5). The results showed that wide spacing tended to produce higher ears per plant than narrow spacing. CP888 was the highest ears per plant variety. NS3 was the highest leaf/stem ratio variety. SW5 showed high leaf, stem and fresh biomass yield and it also produce ear yield closing to a high ear yield variety at 75×25 cm spacing. Moreover, SW5 also had high crude protein (CP) content, while plant spacing did not significantly affect acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), ash, and lactic acid of corn silage. The widest spacing (75×25 cm) showed lower NDF than the narrowest spacing (75×15 cm). It was evident that SW5 and 75×25 cm spacing may be considered optimum for biomass yields without negatively affecting the corn silage quality. Keywords: Nutritional value, Paddy field, Plant spacing, Silage corn, Variety