Effect of Different Harvest Dates on Dry Matter Yield and Forage Quality of Corn ( Zea mays L. )

옥수수의 수확시기가 사초의 생산성과 품질에 미치는 영향

The corn is one of the most important forage crop in Korea. The harvest time for silage affects dry matter (DM) yield and silage quality. This study was carried out to determine the effect of harvest time on the DM yield and nutritive value of corn forage at the Experimental Livestock Farm, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Suweon in 1991. Forage DM yield and DM content of corn forage significantly increased mainly due to increase of ear. And also the ear to total DM ratio increased from 30% to 55% as the harvest was delayed. Chemical composition of the corn forage was improved by reduction in crude fihr, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber as the harvest was delayed. This results indicated that the harvest time of corn forage plays an important role to determine DM yield and DM contents for silage materials.