The Effect of Tillage Operations On Growth Stages And Yield Traits Of Yemeni Maize Used For Silage.

Abstract

#Two field experiments were conducted during two summer seasons in 2007 and 2008, under rainfed conditions at the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Farm, University of Ibb, using a Yemeni maize variety, Sahouli-Khamasi. The purpose was to study the different growth stages of Yemeni maize to determine the appropriate age for the service and harvesting operations for using the planted crops as green fodder or silage in the Ibb region. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the effect of tillage operations on the growth stages and yield traits of Yemeni maize. The following results were obtained: The best time for harvesting the studied variety of Yemeni maize for silage production was after three months of planting, at the dough stage. After 69.15 days, the maize can be used as green fodder (grazing), at the end of the male flowering stage of the planted crops. This provides the opportunity to cultivate Yemeni maize as a fodder or silage crop for two cycles during the rainy season to meet the animals' feed needs in the winter season. The deepest tillage treatment (20 cm) showed higher values for the studied yield traits of Yemeni maize, as evidenced by significant differences between this treatment and the second treatment (10 cm deep tillage) and the control treatment (no tillage). The second treatment (10 cm deep tillage) also outperformed the control treatment (no tillage). The plants responded by increasing the values of the studied traits significantly.