Abstract
Differences among corn ( Zea mays L.) hybrids for forage quality traits have been reported, but the stability of forage quality differences over diverse environments is not well documented. To evaluate hybrid stability for yield and forage quality, nine commercial hybrids were evaluated at two locations in Pennsylvania in 1990 and one location in 1991. All hybrids were harvested on the same day at the 2/3 milk line to black layer stage, depending on the hybrid. Whole plant and stover sub‐samples were collected from each plot, chopped, dried, and ground for analysis, Forage analysis for crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) was performed using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) on both whole plant and stover samples. Total digestible nutrients (TDN) was calculated based on the ADF concentration. Environmental effects were significant for yield and all quality traits. Hybrid effects were significant for all traits except TDN, ADF, and NDF. The range among hybrids for whole plant IVDMD at individual locations was as high as 4.1 percentage units, but averaged over the three environments, the range among hybrids was 2.7 percentage units. Silage yield differences among hybrids, which ranged up to 2.6 tons/acre or 11.5% of the mean, were larger on a percentage basis than any of the quality differences. The results of this study indicate that both yield and forage quality differences exist among commercial hybrids and that producers should consider both yield and quality attributes in selecting a hybrid for silage production. Research Question Differences for forage quality traits have been reported in commercial corn hybrids. It is uncertain, however, how stable these differences are over diverse environments. Also, the relative importance of these differences compared to yield potential has not been well quantified. The objective of this study was to quantify quality differences of commercial hybrids in three environments in Pennsylvania and to compare the relative differences in quality to differences in yield. Literature Summary Several previous studies have reported digestibility differences among commercial hybrids of up to 5 to 6 percentage units and up to a 10 percentage unit range range in NDF. In the northeastern USA, large microclimatic and management differences between fields increase the potential for inconsistent hybrid performance or hybrid × location interactions. As a result, it is uncertain how consistent hybrid differences are for silage quality under the divere conditions encountered in this region. Study Description Nine widely grown commercial corn hybrids were evaluated for 2 yr at Rock Springs, PA, and 1 yr at Landisville, PA. Both locations had deep well‐drained Hagerstown silt loam soils. Growing season rainfall ranged from 2.9 in. above normal at Rock Springs in 1990 to 2.8 in. below normal at Rock Springs in 1991. Each trial included all nine commercial hybrids (Table ). Plant populations were 28 000 plants/acre and soil fertility amendments were managed according to Penn State soil tests. Nitrogen applications totaled 180 lb/acre, including credits from previous crops, All hybrids were harvested on the same day. Whole‐plant and stover yield and forage quality were measured for each hybrid. Quality measurements included whole plant CP, NDF, TDN (based on ADF), and IVDMD and stover CP, NDF, and IVDMD. Applied Questions Do hybrid differences exist for forage quality when evaluated over diverse environments? Our study showed that consistent hybrid differences could be detected for whole plant yield, IVDMD, CP, and percentage ears. At individual locations, differences among the hybrids for some forage quality traits were substantial. For example, at Rock Springs in 1990, the range among hybrids for IVDMD was 4.1 percentage units. When averaged over locations, the range among hybrids in forage quality declined. As shown in Table , averaged over three environments, the range in IVDMD among hybrids was 2.7 percentage units. Corresponding differences in CP among the hybrids were 0.5 percentage units. Hybrid differences in stover IVDMD and NDF were inconsistent over locations. No differences among hybrids for TDN were detected. How do quality differences compare with differences in yield? Hybrid differences for yield averaged over the three environments varied up to 2.6 tons/acre. On a percentage basis, this represents an 11.5% range in yield performance. This compares with a 4.2% range for IVDMD, a 5.3% range for NDF, and a 6.6% range for CP. Consequently, the range in yield performance among the hybrids on a relative basis was approximately two to three times greater than differences in quality performance. The range in IVDMD among hybrids was largest in the highest yielding environment, suggesting that hybrid differences may be greatest in environments with the least stress. Recommendations Based on these results, it appears that screening of new hybrids for quality differences should be considered, since hybrids with consistently lower whole plant and stover IVDMD exist that could be identified prior to marketing for silage purposes. For screening purposes, IVDMD appears to discriminate between hybrids better than measures based on fiber (NDF or TDN calculated from ADF). Average silage yield (35% DM) and quality of whole plant corn and corn stover for nine hybrids grown in three environments in Pennsylvania during 1990 and 1991. Whole‐plant Stover Brand Hybrid Yield DM IVDMD TDN NDF CP IVDMD NDF CP tons/acre ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ % of DM ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Cargill SX269 18.5 44.0 65.7 71.3 43.1 7.8 54.7 73.5 5.2 Cargill 7877 19.2 42.8 66.2 71.8 42.7 7.4 54.8 72.6 5.1 Cargill 8027 20.4 39.6 65.6 70.9 43.3 7.5 55.4 70.6 5.4 Doebler's 75X 19.1 39.7 66.2 71.2 42.1 7.3 54.7 72.6 5.2 Doebler's 84XP 20.6 40.8 64.7 70.8 43.9 7.6 54.9 72.1 5.4 Doebler's 86X‐A 19.5 40.2 64.4 70.6 44.2 7.3 53.2 73.3 5.0 Pioneer 3241 21.0 40.2 65.2 71.6 42.8 7.8 53.1 70.5 5.4 Pioneer 3343 19.6 40.2 65.7 70.8 44.4 7.4 55.4 68.9 5.7 Pioneer 3379 18.5 44.3 65.3 71.2 42.6 7.3 54.2 72.0 5.7 Mean 19.6 41.3 65.4 71.1 43.2 7.5 54.5 71.8 5.3 DM = dry matter concentration, IVDMD = in vitro dry matter disappearance, CP = crude protein, TDN = total digestible nutrients, NDF = neutral detergent fiber.</jats:p
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Claims 19
Claim · model-written summary
Environment significantly affected corn yield and all quality traits.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0 - Outcome
- yield and all quality traitse0
- Setting
- Environmentale0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Environmental effects were significant for yield and all quality traits.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Hybrids significantly differed for traits other than TDN, ADF and NDF.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Material
- Hybride0
- Outcome
- all traits except TDN, ADF, and NDFe0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Hybrid effects were significant for all traits except TDN, ADF, and NDF.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Whole-plant IVDMD differed among hybrids by up to 4.1 percentage units at individual locations.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- whole plant IVDMDe0
- Direction
- as high ase0
- Value
- 4.1 percentage unitse0
- Setting
- individual locationse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The range among hybrids for whole plant IVDMD at individual locations was as high as 4.1 percentage units”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The hybrid range for whole-plant IVDMD averaged 2.7 percentage units across three environments.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- range among hybridse0
- Value
- 2.7 percentage unitse0
- Qualifier
- averaged over the three environmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“averaged over the three environments, the range among hybrids was 2.7 percentage units.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Silage yield among hybrids ranged by up to 2.6 tons/acre.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- Silage yield differencese0
- Direction
- largere0
- Value
- 2.6 tons/acree0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Silage yield differences among hybrids, which ranged up to 2.6 tons/acre or 11.5% of the mean, were larger on a percentage basis than any of the quality differences.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Silage yield differences among hybrids reached 11.5% of the mean.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- Silage yield differencese0
- Direction
- largere0
- Value
- 11.5%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Silage yield differences among hybrids, which ranged up to 2.6 tons/acre or 11.5% of the mean, were larger on a percentage basis than any of the quality differences.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Hybrid differences were consistent for whole-plant yield, IVDMD and CP.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Material
- hybride0
- Outcome
- whole plant yield, IVDMD, CPe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“consistent hybrid differences could be detected for whole plant yield, IVDMD, CP, and percentage ears.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Hybrid differences were also consistent for percentage ears.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Material
- hybride0
- Outcome
- percentage earse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“consistent hybrid differences could be detected for whole plant yield, IVDMD, CP, and percentage ears.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Across locations, hybrid CP differed by 0.5 percentage units.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- differences in CPe0
- Value
- 0.5 percentage unitse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Corresponding differences in CP among the hybrids were 0.5 percentage units.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Hybrid stover IVDMD and NDF differences were inconsistent across locations.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- stover IVDMD and NDFe0
- Setting
- locationse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Hybrid differences in stover IVDMD and NDF were inconsistent over locations.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
No hybrid differences were detected for TDN.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Material
- hybridse0
- Outcome
- TDNe0
- Direction
- No differencese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“No differences among hybrids for TDN were detected.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The hybrid yield range was 4.2% for IVDMD.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- IVDMDe0
- Value
- 4.2%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This compares with a 4.2% range for IVDMD, a 5.3% range for NDF, and a 6.6% range for CP.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The hybrid range was 5.3% for NDF.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- NDFe0
- Value
- 5.3%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This compares with a 4.2% range for IVDMD, a 5.3% range for NDF, and a 6.6% range for CP.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The hybrid range was 6.6% for CP.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- CPe0
- Value
- 6.6%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This compares with a 4.2% range for IVDMD, a 5.3% range for NDF, and a 6.6% range for CP.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Relative yield differences among hybrids were approximately two to three times quality differences.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- range in yield performancee0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Value
- two to three timese0
- Comparator
- differences in quality performancee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the range in yield performance among the hybrids on a relative basis was approximately two to three times greater than differences in quality performance.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The greatest IVDMD hybrid range occurred in the highest-yielding environment.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- range in IVDMDe0
- Direction
- largeste0
- Setting
- highest yielding environmente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The range in IVDMD among hybrids was largest in the highest yielding environment”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend considering both yield and quality when choosing corn silage hybrids.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- consider both yield and quality attributes in selecting a hybrid for silage productione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“producers should consider both yield and quality attributes in selecting a hybrid for silage production.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend screening new hybrids for silage quality before marketing.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- screening of new hybrids for quality differencese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“screening of new hybrids for quality differences should be considered, since hybrids with consistently lower whole plant and stover IVDMD exist that could be identified prior to marketing for silage purposes.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
IVDMD was judged a better discriminator among hybrids than fiber measures.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- discriminate between hybridse0
- Direction
- bettere0
- Comparator
- measures based on fibere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“IVDMD appears to discriminate between hybrids better than measures based on fiber (NDF or TDN calculated from ADF).”
t0“corn”