Influence of leaf area development of early and mid-early maturity varieties of silage maize on dry matter yield and forage quality

DISSERTATION

zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades
Doktor rerum agriculturarum
(Dr. rer. agr.)

Institut für Pflanzenbauwissenschaften,

Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerische Fakultät
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

vorgelegt von: Msc. Agriculture Patrick Nixon Edoka
geboren: 04.11.1958, Lira – Uganda

Präsident der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Prof. Dr. Hans Jürgen Prömel

In Vertretung

Dean: Dekan der Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerischen Fakultät
Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Uwe Jens Nagel

Gutachter:

1. Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Richter

2. Prof. Dr. Frank Ellmer

Datum der Verteidigung: Berlin, 27.01.2006

Zusammenfassung

Kenntnisse zur Blattflächenentwicklung von Silomaissorten während der Vegetationsperiode sind erforderlich, um die Ausreife der Pflanzen charakterisieren und neue Sorte bewerten zu können. Die Blattfläche ist eine Funktion von Blattzahl und Blattfläche und kann den Ertrag und die Futterqualität von Silomais in Abhängigkeit von den Umweltbedingungen in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß variieren. Ein maßgebliches Kriterium für das Erreichen einer guten Futterqualität ist die Prognose des optimalen Erntetermins. In den Jahren 2002 und 2003 wurden zwei Experimente am Standort Berge des Institutes für Pflanzenbauwissenschaften (Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerische Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) durchgeführt, um zu zeigen, wie sich Silomaissorten der Reifegruppen früh und mittelfrüh im Blattflächenindex, in der Blattentwicklung sowie spezifischen Blattfläche unterscheiden und welche Unterschiede zwischen zwei Messmethoden zur Bestimmung des Blattflächenindexes bestehen. Unter Beachtung von Ertrag und Futterqualität haben sich bei limitiertem Wasserangebot unter den gegebenen Standortbedingungen Sorten mit einer geringeren Anzahl von Blattgenerationen (13 bis 16) als geeignet erwiesen. Um Trockenmassegehalte in der Gesamtpflanze im optimalen Bereich von 30 bis 35 % im Erntegut garantieren zu können, sollte Silomais speziell unter trocken-heißen Abreifebedingungen dann geerntet werden, wenn mindestens zwei Blätter unterhalb des Kolbenansatzes noch grün sind.

Eigene Schlagworte: Schlagwörter: Silomais, Reifegruppe, Ertrag, Futterqualität

Abstract

Knowledge of leaf area development of silage maize varieties during the vegetation period is useful in the characterisation of the maturity conditions of plants and in the evaluation of new varieties. Leaf area, which is a function of leaf number and leaf size may affect yield and quality parameters of silage maize at varying levels, depending on the environmental conditions under which the crops are grown. One of the criteria for obtaining good quality

forage is prognosis for optimum harvest time. Two experiments were conducted in 2002 and 2003 at Berge research station, belonging to the Institute of Crop Science (Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Humboldt-University Berlin) with the aim to assess how silage maize varieties of maturity group early and mid early differ in LAI, leaf area development, specific leaf area, what differences exist between the two methods used to measure LAI. Considering yield and forage quality, under the condition of location Berge, with limited water availability, varieties with fewer leaves (13-16) may be suitable. To maintain the whole plant dry matter content within the optimum range (30-35%), especially under drought condition, harvest time must fall within the period when at least a minimum of two leaves below the cob leaf are still green.

Keywords: Keywords: Silage maize, Maturity group, Yield, Forage Quality

Table of contents

• 1. Introduction and aim of the experiment
• 2. Literature
  • 2.1. Classification and selection of maize varieties
  • 2.2. Leaf area
  • 2.3. Leaf area index
  • 2.4. Plant canopy analyser LAI 2000
  • 2.5. Specific leaf area
  • 2.6. Leaf angle
  • 2.7. Leaf senescence
  • 2.8. Stay-green
  • 2.9. Leaf (area) duration
  • 2.10. Light interception
  • 2.11. Radiation use efficiency
  • 2.12. Temperature sum (GDD, HU)
  • 2.13. BBCH Decimal Codes for the growth stages of maize
  • 2.14. Forage quality and NIRS
• 3. Material and Methods
  • 3.1. Field research station Berge - location, soil and weather conditions
  • 3.2. Silage maize maturity groups used
  • 3.3. Measurements and observations
    • 3.3.1. Manual method of measuring LA and LAI
    • 3.3.2. Plant canopy analyser LAI 2000 method of measuring LAI
  • 3.4. Growing Degree Days (GDD)
  • 3.5. Data analysis
• 4. Results
  • 4.1. GDD at germination, silking and harvest periods in 2002 – 2004
  • 4.2. Leaf area and leaf area index (Manual measurement)
  • 4.3. Leaf area index measurement using LAI 2000 plant canopy analyser
  • 4.4. Light interception and leaf angle
  • 4.5. Individual leaf areas and leaf generation (numbers) of the varieties
  • 4.6. Maximum leaf area
    • 4.6.1. Statistical analysis
  • 4.7. Dry matter yield and dry mass content
  • 4.8. Forage quality
• 5. Discussion
  • 5.1. Temperature sum (GDD)
  • 5.2. Leaf area and leaf number
  • 5.3. Leaf senescence
  • 5.4. Stay-green characteristics and yield
  • 5.5. Percentage green leaf area at harvest
  • 5.6. Leaf area duration
  • 5.7. Specific leaf area
  • 5.8. Dry matter yield and dry matter content
  • 5.9. Forage quality
• 6. Conclusions
• List of abbreviations
• Literature
• Appendices
• Eidesstattliche Erklärung
• Appreciation

Tables

• Table 1: Soil texture at Berge research station (Köhn 2002)
• Table 2: Soil chemical composition at Berge research station (Köhn 2002)
• Table 3: Temperature and rainfall means between 1971 and 2000, Berge (Köhn 2002)
• Table 4: Early and mid-early silage maize varieties at location Berge (check and core varieties 2002-2004)
• Table 5: Leaf parameters of reference plants of silage maize, early and mid-early maturity groups in regional variety trial of Brandenburg in the year 2002 at location Berge (Harvest: 03.09. and 09.09.2002 respectively)
• Table 6:Leaf parameters of reference plants of silage maize, early and mid-early maturity groups in regional variety trial of Brandenburg at location Berge (Harvest: 15.08. and 23.08.2003 respectively)
• Table 7:Leaf area index of early and mid-early check varieties of forage maize using LAI 2000 in year 2002 at location Berge
• Table 8:Leaf area index of early check varieties of forage maize using LAI 2000 in year 2003 at location Berge
• Table 9:Leaf area index of mid-early check varieties of forage maize in 2003 using LAI 2000 plant canopy analyser in year 2003, Berge
• Table 10:LAI measurement with LAI 2000 plant canopy analyser of early and mid-early maturity group of forage maize in year 2002, Berge
• Table 11:LAI measurements with LAI 2000 plant canopy analyser of early and mid-early maturity group of forage maize in year 2003, Berge
• Table 12:Leaf area of individual leaves [cm²] of check and core varieties for early maturity group (2002)
• Table 13:Leaf area [cm²] of individual leaves of check and core varieties of mid-early maturity group (2002)
• Table 14:Leaf area [cm²] of individual leaves of check and core varieties for early maturity group (2003)
• Table 15:Leaf area [cm²] of individual check and core varieties of mid-early maturity varieties of forage maize in 2003
• Table 16:Maximum leaf area at silking of early maturity varieties in 2002 and 2003 at location Berge
• Table 17:Maximum leaf area at silking of mid-early maturity varieties in 2002 and 2003 at location Berge
• Table 18:Average of green leaf area [cm²] and leaf number from cob leaf position of early check and core varieties of forage maize at harvest time in 2002 at location Berge (03.09.02)
• Table 19:Average of green leaf area [cm²] and leaf number from cob leaf position of mid-early check and core varieties of forage maize at harvest time in 2002 at location Berge (09.09.02)
• Table 20:Average of green leaf area [cm²] and leaf number from cob leaf position of early check and core varieties of forage maize at harvest time in 2003 at location Berge (12.08.2003)
• Table 21:Average of green leaf area [cm²] and leaf number from cob leaf position of mid-early check and core varieties of forage maize at harvest time in 2003 at location Berge (18.08.03)
• Table 22:Leaf area, dry mass and specific leaf area of check variety Symphony of early maturity group
• Table 23:Variation analysis for early maturity varieties of forage maize tested in year 2002 and 2003
• Table 24:Variation analysis (NIRS) for mid-early maturity varieties of forage maize tested in year 2002 and 2003
• Table 25:Dry matter yield and dry matter content of 13 early maturity varieties of silage maize tested in 2002 and 2003 and 3 core varieties tested in the 3 years 2002-2004, location Berge
• Table 26:Dry matter yield and dry matter content of 14 mid-early maturity varieties of silage maize tested in 2002 and 2003 and 5 core varieties tested in the 3 years 2002, 2003 and 2004, location Berge
• Table 27:Starch yield and starch content of early maturity varieties of maize in 2002, 2003 and 2004, location Berge
• Table 28:Starch yield and starch content of mid-early maturity varieties of forage maize in 2002, 2003 and 2004, location Berge
• Table 29:Energy yield and energy content of early maturity varieties of forage maize in 2002, 2003 and 2004, location Berge
• Table 30:Energy yield and energy content of mid-early maturity varieties of forage maize in 2002, 2003 and 2004, location Berge
• Table 31:Correlation matrix for maize forage parameters of early maturity group in 2002 (significant at 0.2199)
• Table 32:Correlation matrix for maize forage parameters of early maturity group in 2003 (significant at 0.2319)
• Table 33:Correlation matrix for maize forage parameters of mid-early maturity group in 2002 (significant at 0.2096)
• Table 34:Correlation matrix for maize forage parameters of mid-early maturity group in 2003 (significant at 0.1966)
• Table A1:Yield and quality parameters of silage maize of maturity group early in regional variety trial of Brandenburg in year 2002 at location Berge (Harvest: 03.09.2002)
• Table A2:Yield and quality parameters of silage maize of mid-early maturity group in regional variety trial of Brandenburg in year 2002 at location Berge (Harvest: 09.09.2002)
• Table A3:Yield and quality parameters of selected recommended silage maize varieties for Brandenburg area in year 2002 at location Berge
• Table A4:Yield and quality parameters of silage maize of early maturity group in regional variety trial of Brandenburg in year 2003 at location Berge (harvest: 15.08.2003)
• Table A5:Yield and quality parameters of silage maize of mid-early maturity group in regional variety trial of Brandenburg in year 2003 at location Berge (harvest: 23.08.2003)
• Table A6:Yield and quality parameter of the recommended silage maize varieties for Brandenburg area (according to variety advisory for silage maize 2001 and 2002) in year 2003 at location Berge
• Table A7:Yield and quality parameters of silage maize of early maturity group in regional variety trial of Brandenburg in year 2004 at location Berge (harvest: 06.09.2004)
• Table A8:Yield and quality parameters of silage maize of mid-early maturity group in regional variety trial of Brandenburg in year 2004 at location Berge (Harvest: 13.09.2004)
• Table A9:Yield and quality parameter of the recommended silage maize varieties for Brandenburg area (according to variety advisory for silage maize 2003 and 2004) in year 2004 at location Berge
• Table A10:Leaf area index of early maturity group using LAI 2000
• Table A11:Leaf area index of check varieties using LAI 2000
• Table A12:Leaf area index of mid-early maturity group using LAI 2000
• Table A13:Leaf area index of early maturity varieties with LAI 2000 plant canopy analyser in 2003
• Table A14:Leaf area index of mid-early maturity varieties with LAI 2000 plant canopy analyser in 2003
• Table A15:Leaf area of individual leaves (cm²) for early maturity group (2002)
• Table A16:Leaf area of individual leaves (cm²) for mid-early maturity group (2002)
• Table A17Average sum of leaf area (cm²) and leaf number from cob leaf position of early maturity varieties of forage maize at harvest time in 2002 at location Berge (03.09.02)
• Table A18Average sum of leaf area (cm²) and leaf number from cob leaf position of mid-early maturity varieties of forage maize at harvest time in 2002 at location Berge (09.09.02)
• Table A19Average sum of leaf area (cm²) and leaf number from cob leaf position of early maturity varieties of forage maize at harvest time in 2003 at location Berge (12.08.03)
• Table A20Average sum of leaf area (cm²) and leaf number from cob leaf position of mid-early maturity varieties of forage maize at harvest time in 2003 at location Berge (18.08.03)

Images

• Figure 1: Mean monthly rainfall distribution (mm) and air temperature for experimental years 2002, 2003 and 2004
• Figure 2:Temperature sums (GDD) during the four successive years 2002 - 2004 growing seasons of forage maize at location Berge
• Figure 3:Whole plant green leaf area and leaf area index (average of core varieties Baxxos, Nescio, Tassilo, Arsenal and Symphony)
• Figure 4:Whole plant green leaf area and leaf area index (average of core varieties: Lacta, LG3226, Pontos, PR39B50, Rivaldo and Topper)
• Figure 5:Leaf area index (max.) of early maturity varieties by manual measurement in 2002
• Figure 6:Leaf area index (max.) of mid-early maturity varieties by manual measurement in 2002
• Figure 7:Leaf area index by manual and LAI 2000 plant canopy analyser measurements of early maturity check varieties in 2003, Berge
• Figure 8:Leaf area index and light interception by early maturity varieties of forage maize in year 2002, Berge
• Figure 9:Leaf area index and light interception by early maturity varieties of forage maize in year 2003, Berge
• Figure 10:Leaf area index and light interception by mid-early maturity varieties of forage maize in year 2002, Berge
• Figure 11:Leaf area index and light interception by mid-early maturity varieties of forage maize in year 2003, Berge
• Figure 12:Average leaf area development rates of early and mid-early maturity groups of forage maize in 2002, Berge
• Figure 13:Percent green leaf area at harvest of early check maturity varieties of forage maize in 2002 and 2003, location Berge
• Figure 14:Percent green leaf area at harvest of mid-early check maturity varieties of forage Maize in 2002 and 2003, location Berge
• Figure 15:Leaf area of all leaves per plant (max.) and leaf number (total.), green leaf area and green leaf number at harvest of early maturity check varieties of forage Maize in 2002 and 2003, Berge
• Figure 16:Leaf area of all leaves per plant (max.) and leaf number (total), green leaf area and green leaf number at harvest of mid-early maturity check varieties of forage maize in 2002 and 2003, location Berge
• Figure 17:Specific leaf area (SLA) of early maturity varieties (n=21) in 2002, Berge
• Figure 18:Specific leaf area (SLA) of early maturity varieties (n=18) in 2003, Berge
• Figure 19: Specific leaf area (SLA) of mid-early maturity varieties (n=22) in 2002, Berge
• Figure 20:Specific leaf area (SLA) of mid-early maturity varieties (n=25) in 2003, Berge
• Figure 21:Plant dry weight [%] of check varieties (early maturity group)
• Figure 22:Plant dry weight [%] of check varieties (mid-early maturity group)
• Figure 22:Plant dry weight [%] of check varieties (mid-early maturity group)
• Figure 23:Dry matter yield and green leaf area of early maturity varieties of forage maize at harvest in 2002 and 2003, Berge
• Figure 24:Dry matter yield and green leaf area of mid-early maturity varieties of forage maize at harvest in 2002 and 2003, Berge
• Figure 25:Leaf area development and senescense in two check varieties of early and mid-early group of forage maize having the same number of leaves in 2003 (Tassilo and LG3226)
• Figure 25:Leaf area development and senescense in two check varieties of early and mid-early group of forage maize having the same number of leaves in 2003 (Tassilo and LG3226)
• Figure A1:Block design with four replications (early varieties, year 2002)
• Figure A2: Block design with four replications (mid-early varieties, year 2002)
• Figure A3:Block design with four replications (early varieties, year 2003)
• Figure A4:Block design with four replications (mid-early varieties, year 2003)