Productivity of maize cultivars (Zea mays L.) and quality of components and silage

This work was carried out to evaluate the agronomic characteristics (bedding, breakage, and productivity) and the chemical-bromatological of the green matter and silage of 19 cultivars of maize. The treatments were applied on 5 x 4-m plots arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. By the ocassion of sowing, doses corresponding to 500 kg/ha of the formula 4-14-8 (N-P2O5-K2O), were applied and at the 47 day of emergency, 60 kg/ha of N in broadcast. From the studied nineteen cultivars, nine were selected based on percentage of broken and bedridden plants with adequate agronomic characteristics to mechanical harvest. When the plants from the useful area (12 m(2)) reached the dough stage, they were harvested and mechanically chopped, to obtain particles closely to 2 cm. After being chopped and homogenized, nearly 15 kg of green matter were placed inside plastic bags. After the air being eliminated, they were transferred into a dark chamber, thus simulating a silo condition. Dry matter yield from the selected hybrids to be stored did not present big variation, with Zeneca 850 and Braskalb XL 380 (12.72 and 12.62 t/ha of dry matter, respectively) being the most outstanding. The percentage of ear in the plants and contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and soluble carbohydrates and dry matter in vitro disappearance (IVDMD) of hybrids did not differ. However, the FDN, FDA, N-NH3/NT and IVDMD in the silage showed differences among the nine hybrids, which was not verified for the crude protein, lactic acid, and pH.