PRODUCTIVITY AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF CORN FOR SILAGE SUBJECTED TO THE APPLICATION OF PLANT BIOSTIMULANTS

Abstract

The growing demand for food drives the search for more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices. Among them, the use of plant biostimulants has consolidated as a viable alternative to increase crop productivity and favor cultivation under adverse conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the isolated and combined effects of plant biostimulants on the agronomic characteristics and fermentative quality of maize silage. The experiment was carried out from March to July 2023 in the experimental area of the Forage and Pasture Sector at the State University of Southwest Bahia (UESB), in a randomized block design. The FEROZ VIP3 maize hybrid was subjected to Azospirillum brasilense, exogenous phytohormones, or their combination, in addition to a control treatment. At 79 days after planting, plants were harvested to determine total yield, morphological fractions, and nutritional value, as well as whole-plant silage quality. Exogenous phytohormones increased total forage yield by 10.94%, ear yield by 17.59%, and leaf yield by 25.52% compared to the control. Significant increases (p<0.05) were observed for leaf dry matter (21.5%) and total yield (15.3%) with A. brasilense or phytohormones. Combined use raised mineral matter, crude protein, and non-fibrous carbohydrate contents, while reducing fiber and lignin, without impairing fermentative quality. It is concluded that the isolated or combined application of biostimulants increases productivity and improves the bromatological characteristics of the evaluated cultivar.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/edimpacto2025.080-002