Revista Brasileira de Milho e Sorgo (Apr 2004)
SIZE PLOT AND BORDER PLOT REQUIREMENT FOR THE EVALUATION OF CORN CULTIVARS FOR SILAGE UTILIZATION
Abstract
The use of corn silage by dairymen has increased in the last years as well as the demand for information about the cultivars available in the market. Although cropping and evaluation studies for grain production are well established, basic information focusing on forage productivity and quality for silage utilization are scarce. The objective of this experiment was to verify the necessity of border lines between plots in experiments to evaluate potential forage production of corn hybrids. Fifteen hybrids, from seven seed companies and indicated to be cropped in Southeastern Brazil were used. A randomized complete block design with three replicates was used, in which each plot had four 8-meter- long lines, spaced 0,8 m from each other. Individual evaluation of each line inside each plot was done and data recorded: number of plants (stand), total fresh forage production (PMV), dry matter percentage (DM%) and total dry matter production (PMS). The use of border lines in plots is not necessary when comparing potential productivity of corn hybrids for silage utilization. Plots with only one 8-meter line give the same precision in such evaluations compared to plots with greater number of lines. The non-use of border lines between plots in this kind of study allows reduction in experimental area and, consequently, in fertilizers, defensives and labor without affecting the quality of results.
