Investigation of The Possibilities of Using Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) Biomass as a Feed Source After Fresh Ear Harvest in Different Maturation Periods

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the possibilities of using sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata Sturt) biomass as a feed source after the fresh ear harvest in different maturation periods. The study was carried out according to the split-plot experimental design with 3 replications in the conditions of the Harran Plain in 2016 and 2017. Baron, Vega, Jubilee, GSS 5649 and Merit hybrid sweet corn varieties were used as crop material in the study. According to the Zadox scale, harvesting was done in the periods of early milk maturation (Z73), middle milk maturation (Z75), late milk maturation (Z77), early yellow maturation (Z83), middle yellow maturation (Z85) and late yellow maturation (Z87 periods. According to the research results; features such as plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), number of leaves (number /plant) and green grass (biomass) yield (kg da-1) were found to be statistically significant (P≤0.01) in terms of harvesting during maturation periods. At the mean of varieties; the plant height was between 124.5 and 164.3 cm, the stem diameter was between 21.9 and 23.9 mm, the number of leaves was between 10.2 and 12.9, and the biomass yield varied between 3895 and 5933 kg da-1. Plant height, dry grass yield and dry matter ratio values were found to be lower in the harvest made in the early maturation periods and higher values were seen in the harvests made in the late maturation periods. The highest biomass yield was reached in the early yellow maturity (Z83) period whereas the lowest value was found in the early milk period (Z73). The biomass yield of GSS 5649 variety was found to be higher than the others. It has been determined that sweet corn biomass can be used as a feed source after fresh ear harvesting and a satisfactory yield will be obtained