Resumo

MULLER, Liziany et al. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2005, vol.23, n.2, pp.105-119. ISSN 0798-7269.

The experiment was conducted inside a protected environment (tunnel) at Fitotecnia Department of the Universidade Federal of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of different harvest dates and sowing densities in growth and bromatological composition of hydroponic corn fodder. It was utilized the randomized experimental design. Treatments consisted of four sowing densities (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 e 2.0 kg seed/m²) and two dates of harvests (10 and 20 days after germination) distributed in 4x2 factorial scheme. It was not observed interaction (P>0.05) between sowing densities and harvest date for all variables analyzed. Increment of sowing densities increased the values of crude protein and decreased the values of neutral and acid detergent fiber and lignin. The results indicates that the harvest at 10 days showed highest values (P<0.05) of crude protein and fresh biomass and lowest values of plant height, dry biomass, neutral detergent fiber and lignin. The best characteristics of hydroponic corn fodder were verified in 2.0 kg seed/m² and harvest at 10 days after sowing.

Palavras-chave : protected environment; hydroponic system; Zea mays.