Winter management and seed inoculation influenced the productivity and quality of corn silage 1

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess crop residue effects, nitrogen doses, and inoculation of seeds with Azospirillum brasilense concerning yield and corn silage quality using direct planting system. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Santa Maria - RS, Brazil. A randomized block design approach was used and treatments were distributed in a factor analysis with different crop residues (cultivars Fundacep Horizonte, Quartzo, Mirante, Campo Real, BRS Cauê, MN 743, and Moreninha), nitrogen doses (0; 88.59, and 177.18 kg de N ha-1), and presence and absence of inoculation with A. brasilense. Productivity and bromatological quality of the silage product were assessed. Crop residues and nitrogen doses did not influence grain productivity. After barley crop, corn silage presented lower neutral detergent fiber values in relation to maize grown after wheat and black oat crops. The dose of 177.18 kg N ha-1 increased silage dry mass of corn at least by 2.13 and 2.18 Mg ha-1, respectively, after barley and black oat crops. The soil cover with an oat crop (cv. Moreninha) in winter improves the bromatological quality of corn silage. Inoculation with A. brasilense increases grain yield, but does not influence the protein content of corn silage.