Landrace maize variety in the production of hydroponic forage with the use of different substrates

Abstract

Hydroponic fodder production (FH) represents a sustainable and economical alternative for
food supplementation, mainly in the low fodder production phases. The objective of this work
was to evaluate the production and quality of FH of Creole maize variety with the use of organic
substrates and without the presence of substrate. The work contained three treatments, two
of which correspond to the substrates of sugarcane bagasse or grass pruning and a treatment
without substrate use. The design was in a randomized block design with seven replicates.
The height, dry matter, crude protein (CP), fat, ash, N, P and K contents were evaluated in the
total forage and aerial part (AP). The pruning of grass presented higher values in relation to
cane bagasse for height and N, P, K, K (AP), CP and fat contents. However, the treatment with
sugarcane bagasse showed a greater increase of these characteristics. The treatment without
substrate use presented low germination.