FEED VALUE OF MAIZE (Zea mays var. indentata (Sturtev.) L.H.Bailey) GRAIN UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION LEVELS AND NITROGEN DOSES

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate effects of different irrigation levels and nitrogen doses to chemical composition, in vitro gas and methane production of maize kernel for animal feeding. Three different nitrogen doses such as 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 N and irrigation levels such as 50%, 75% and 100% of depleted water were applied. The study was carried out under split plot for randomized complete block experimental design with three replicates during 2013-2014 seasons and irrigation levels were allocated in to main plots while nitrogen doses in to sub plots. The two-year results of the study showed that crude protein, crude ash and crude oil ratios and gas and methane production, metabolic energy (ME) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) were positively affected by increased level of water levels and nitrogen doses while acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and dry matter contents were negatively affected. It is clear that increased level of water and nitrogen positively contributed to quality of maize kernel for animal production but more researches are needed to explain how increased level of water and nitrogen result in higher level of gas and methane production.