Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

y the Grain and Seed Research Center of the University of Costa Rica and
successfully tested in the region, were planted. Maize was planted at a rate
of 6 seeds/m of furrow and soybean at 15 seeds/m of furrow. In both cases,
distance between furrows was 0.80 m. Main plots consisted of furrows of
each crop as follows: (1) associated (1:1); (2) intercropped (4:4); and (3)
monoculture. A split-split plot design was used in which subplots consisted
of three forms of crop harvesting before silaging: (1) removal of 50% of the
baby corn (at mid-flowering); (2) removal of 50% of mature maize (tender
grain); and (3) removal of nothing. Experiment variables consisted of
planting method and percentage of removal at harvest of mature maize or
baby corn. Each treatment was replicated three times.
Maize was planted in association to improve CP content of the final
product. Modifications at harvest were included to estimate the economic
impact of selling part of the agricultural harvest and the capacity to recover
either partially or totally the high investment made in the crop and silaging
process.
The yields of baby corn, mature maize or tender grain, and forage of
each crop were determined as well as the detailed costs of maize cultivation
and silage making.
Results and Discussion
Table 1 details the costs per hectare for planting, maintenance, harvest,
and silage making, assuming equal areas of each associated crop. Table 2
summarizes crop yields for all treatments, forage being expressed in both
fresh and dry basis.
The average sale of baby corn was 7,533 units/ha, at US$0.02 each,
totaling US$150.66. If costs of growing maize and making silage are
deducted from the harvest of baby corn, their sale only recovers 37.5% of
total costs/ha. In the case of mature maize, the average harvest was 7,312
units at US$ 0.0425/unit, representing a total income of US$310.76, which
covered 77.4% of the costs.
The average yield in terms of maize ears per plant was less than 1,
which is much lower than that expected, significantly affecting results. With
acceptable plant density (from 4 to 5 plants/m of furrow) and with 1 ear or
more per plant, 50% of baby corn or mature maize can be harvested, which
would represent from 25,000 to 30,000 units/ha.
The maize produced approximately 30 t fresh forage/ha and soybean,
11 t/ha, which are equivalent to 10.5 and 3.5 t DM/ha. In the case of maize,
optimal yields are between 40 and 45 t/ha. These yields can be improved by
applying a more balanced fertilization and by correcting the poor drainage in
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