Abstract

PORTILLO, Guido Arnaldo et al. Influence of maturity stage on nutritional quality and production cost of corn silage in San Pedro de Ycuamandyyú, Paraguay. Investig. Agrar. [online]. 2025, vol.27, n.1, e2701838.  Epub June 30, 2025. ISSN 2305-0683.  https://doi.org/10.18004/investig.agrar.2025.2701838.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bromatological composition and production cost of corn silage (Zea mays L.) harvested at different maturity stages. The research was conducted in the district of San Pedro de Ycuamandyyú between January and July 2023. A completely randomized design was used with three treatments corresponding to different maturity stages of the crop at harvest and ensiling (T1 = ¼ milk line (ML), T2 = ½ ML, T3 = – ML), with five replications each. Each replication consisted of a polyethylene microsilo with a capacity of 70 kg. Data were subjected to ANOVA using Fisher's test (α = 0,05), and means with significant differences were compared using Tukey's test (α = 0,05). The – ML treatment showed superior values for DM (31,10%), TDN (70,55%), NFC (37,63%), and IVDMD (69,33%), and excellent CP content (7,67%). Likewise, this treatment recorded lower levels of NDF (44,92%), ADF (25,12%), LIG (1,69%), and ADIN (6,16% CP), in addition to the lowest production cost per kilogram of FM (329 Gs) and DM (1.059 Gs). Based on these results, it is recommended to harvest and ensile when the corn crop reaches the – ML stage to optimize nutritional value and production cost.

Keywords : Zea mays L.; conserved forage; nutritional quality; cost.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English | Spanish     · English ( pdf ) | Spanish ( pdf )