Yield, Quality Components, and Nitrogen Levels of Silage Corn Fertilized with Urea and Zeolite

The zeolite and urea mixture may be use to improve nitrogen (N)-use efficiency of silage corn. The objective of this study was to evaluate dry-matter yield and nutritional levels of N of silage corn fertilized with urea and zeolite mixture. The experimental design was a 2 x 4 x 4 factorial randomized block design with three replications. Treatments included two types of stilbite zeolite (natural and concentrated), four levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100, and 200 kg ha-1), and four ratios of zeolite (25%, 50%, and 100% of N level). Treatments were applied 60 days after planting with the topdressing fertilization. The use of concentrated (650 g kg-1 of stilbite) or natural (470 g kg-1 of stilbite) zeolite with urea increased silage corn dry-matter production and leaf N concentrations.