Technical efficiency of forage production from residues of green corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) in Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

There has been an investigation using the association between three soil tillage systems (conventional, minimum, and no-tillage) with different previous crops (Pearl millet, Sun hemp, pigeon pea, and cowpea) and combination of nitrogen fertilization with Azospirillum brasilense in order to assess the technical efficiency of growing green corn under different soil tillage systems associated with crops before the planting of green corn under the combined presence of nitrogen fertilization and A. brasilense. The experiment was carried out on the Experimental Farm of the Universidade Federal de Sergipe, municipality of São Cristóvão, state of Sergipe, Northeast region, Brazil, from February to October, 2020. The chosen design was conducted in experimental strips with divided subplots, where the strips were made of by the systems. The subplots where the crops were randomized within each strip in three replications. This experiment evaluated green corn regarding: a) plant height; b) total leaf chlorophyll content; c) dry biomass yield; d) dry matter; e) mineral matter; f) crude protein; g) neutral and acid detergent fiber; h) total digestible nutrients. The CT/Guandu/N treatment promoted a greater increase in corn plant height and chlorophyll content; MT/Pearl millet/I obtained higher dry biomass yield; GO NT/Cowpea/N had the highest dry matter content; MT/Guandu/I promoted higher crude protein. Neutral and acid detergent fiber, total digestible nutrients were better in NT/Guandu/I, NT/Cowpea, and MT/Cowpea, respectively. The objective of the study was to evaluate the technical efficiency of forage production from green corn residues.