Egg-laying hen manure in the corn yield and silage quality

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to measure the influence of egg-laying hen manure, used in different rates, as topdressing fertilizer on corn yield and silage quality. The corn, variety UFVM-100 Nativo, was used. The experiment consisted of a randomized block design with six treatments (0.00, 0.75, 1.50, 2.25, 3.00, and 3.75 t ha^-1 of tanned manure) and four replications. We measured the plant height, point of ear insertion, stem diameter, prolificacy, ear weight, proportion of ears in green matter, and the productivity of green and dry biomass of plants. After the harvest, the material was ensiled. After 64 days of storage, the silos were opened to determine the dry biomass, crude protein, losses by gases and by effluent, loss of total dry biomass, and dry biomass recovery of silages. Data were subjected to analysis of variance by the F test and the means analyzed through regression analysis. There was a linear increase in productivity of green and dry biomass of corn plants in response to manure application. The other agronomic characteristics and quality of silage did not show significant difference among treatments. The application of 3.75 t ha^-1 hen manure is recommended to reach higher production of green and dry biomass of corn plants for silage. The organic fertilization with hen manure does not affect quality of the produced silage.

Key words:
fertilization; organic waste; yield; qualitative parameters; Zea mays L