Avaliação quantitativa e qualitativa do resíduo de variedades de milho cultivados para a produção de minimilho

Abstract

Corn [Zea mays (L.) Poaceae] is one of the most widely produced crops in the world, with high nutritional value and diverse applications, serving as a food source for both humans and animals. The production of mini-corn increases the yield and accelerates the return of the producer’s investment. The cultivation of mini-corn generates waste from other parts of the plants, such as the stem and leaves, which are often discarded and serve as green fertilizer for the next crop. However, these parts of the mini-corn plant may serve as food for ruminants. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the remains of mini-corn plants after the harvesting of the corn. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bromatological characteristics and in vitro digestibility of corn plants after the harvest of five varieties of mini-corn. A randomized, block design was used with a 5 X 2 factor scheme in subdivided plots with five varieties (AG 1051, Alagoano, Branquinha, São Luíz and Viçosence) with and without the harvesting of cobs in a subplot with three blocks. The Alagoano and Viçosence varieties had the highest crude protein content in the subplot without cobs. The AG1051, Branquinha and Viçosence varieties had the highest total digestible nutrients in the subplot without cobs (P > 0.05) and demonstrated the greatest fodder potential among the varieties tested. The Alagoano variety had the highest neutral detergent fiber and in vitro digestibility of neutral detergent fiber in the subplot without cobs (P > 0.05).