Open Veterinary Journal, (2025), Vol. 15(7): 3136-3147

Research Article

10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.25

Comparative analysis of the biomass yield and nutrient content of corn varieties grown in rice fields during the dry season for ruminant feed

Nurul Purnomo^1,2, Asmuddin Natsir^3*, Ambo Ako⁴ and Ismartoyo Ismartoyo³

¹Graduate School, Hasanuddin University, Kota Makassar, Indonesia

²Program Studi Peternakan, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidenreng Rappang, Sidenreng Rappang, Indonesia

³Department of Nutrition and Animal Feed, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Hasanuddin University, Kota Makassar, Indonesia

⁴Departement of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Hasanuddin University, Kota Makassar, Indonesia

*Corresponding Author: Asmuddin Natsir. Department of Nutrition and Animal Feed, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Hasanuddin University, Kota Makassar, Indonesia. Email: asmuddin_natsir [at] unhas.ac.id

Submitted: 08/01/2025 Revised: 04/07/2025 Accepted: 10/07/2025 Published: 31/07/2025

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ABSTRACT

Background: Cultivating corn plants in rice fields during the dry season is an alternative worth considering for providing ruminant feed. However, there is no information on the nutrient content and biomass productivity of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the biomass yield and nutrient content of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season as a potential feed for ruminant livestock.

Methods: The research was conducted in Sidenreng Rappang Regency, South Sulawesi Province, and involved two corn varieties: P1—Lamuru (local composite variety) and P2—Pioneer P32 (hybrid variety), each evaluated with five replications.

Results: The results indicated that Pioneer P32 corn stalks and whole plants had higher dry matter (DM) content, whereas Lamuru corn stalks exhibited higher ether extract content. However, other nutrient components across plant parts and varieties showed no significant differences. The yield of crude fiber was higher in Lamuru corn leaves, but the yields of other nutrients across plant parts were generally similar. The contributions of stalks, leaves, and cobs to the overall biomass and nutrient yield did not significantly differ between the two varieties. The varieties were comparable in carrying capacity, average daily gain (ADG) potential, and milk yield estimates based on DM and crude protein.

Conclusion: Although Pioneer P32 demonstrated superior DM content, the overall nutrient profiles and biomass yields of both varieties were similar, with no significant differences in carrying capacity, ADG potential, or milk yield. Therefore, further multiseason and multilocation studies are recommended to validate these findings under different environmental conditions.

Keywords: Corn varieties, Biomass yield, Nutrient content, Rice fields, Dry season.

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Introduction

The productivity of ruminant livestock is linked to the quality and quantity of forage provided (Handayanta et al., 2015). In Indonesia, forage production faces several challenges, including a significant decline in yield during the dry season (Rinduwati, 2017), a reduction in grassland area (Sudaryanto and Priyanto, 2010), and generally low forage quality (Manu, 2014). To address feed shortages during the lean season, options such as silage and hay production are commonly recommended (Kumar et al., 2019). Silage, a fermented feed with high moisture content (McDonald et al., 2011), can be made from various feedstocks, including forage crops, agricultural waste, creeping legumes, and tree legumes (Rotz et al., 2003; Moran, 2005; Bolsen et al., 2007). Whole-plant corn silage is one of the most important feedstuffs because of its high dry matter yield and digestible fiber. It has gained popularity in dairy cattle production worldwide and beef cattle production, particularly in Europe and North America (Zhang et al., 2022).

The use of corn silage as feed for fattening cattle has been shown to increase dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake, increase weight gain, final weight, and carcass weight (Phipps et al., 1995; Juniper et al., 2005; Nazli et al., 2018). The use of corn silage in dairy cattle has also been shown to increase feed consumption, milk production, live weight, and body condition scores (Tayyab et al., 2019). Corn silage can also substitute for grass in pastures without causing a decrease in feed consumption, milk production, fat percentage, protein percentage, and live weight of dairy cattle (Miguel et al., 2019). Corn silage as a substitute for Napier grass in goat fattening has been shown to increase feed consumption, weight gain, and final weight and to reduce the feed conversion ratio (Khaing et al., 2015). Replacing ground corn with corn silage as feed for dairy goats did not decrease feed consumption, feed digestibility, and milk production, but it reduced the feed conversion ratio (Canizares et al., 2011).

Corn is a preferred silage crop due to its high biomass yield, energy content, good nutrient profiles, and digestibility (Rotz et al., 2003; Bolsen et al., 2007), and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, including dry land (Syahruddin et al., 2023). Additionally, corn plants have an appropriate dry matter content, sufficient sugar levels, and low buffer capacity (Rotz et al., 2003; Bolsen et al., 2007). Numerous studies have focused on improving the biomass yield and nutrient content of corn as silage material, examining factors such as plant variety (Millner et al., 2005; Semenčenko et al., 2014; Nazli et al., 2019), harvest age (Nazli et al., 2019; Lajús et al., 2020), planting density (Cusicanqui and Lauer, 1999; Millner et al., 2005; Ferreira et al., 2014; Nazli et al., 2019; Xu et al., 2022), and intercropping systems (Mendonca et al., 2014; Nave and Corbin, 2018; Xu et al., 2022). These factors influence both the biomass yield and nutrient content of corn plants. In Indonesia, two types of corn are popular among farmers: hybrid and local composite corn (Juradi et al., 2021). Hybrid corn is a superior variety with high yield potential under optimal environmental conditions (Eze et al., 2020). Research (Tobing et al., 2022) has been shown that a corn hybrid produces higher seeds than a composite corn. However, local composite corn has several advantages, including being more tolerant to drought, growing well on marginal land, requiring lower fertilizer doses, requiring less water, and having lower seed prices than hybrid corn (Juradi et al., 2021). Although (Millner et al., 2005; Semenčenko et al., 2014; Mahama and Doka, 2019; Nazli et al., 2019) showed that under optimal environmental conditions, several corn hybrid varieties produced different fodder biomass. The research results of (Singh et al., 2023) reported no difference in biomass yield and nutrient content of hybrid and composite corn fodder cultivated in Rabi and Kharif seasons.

Most previous research has focused on corn silage production during the rainy season or spring, but little attention has been given to the potential of growing corn as silage in rice fields during the dry season. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the biomass yields and nutrient contents of different corn varieties cultivated in rice fields during the dry season. Although Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) data show that rain still occurs during the dry season, the intensity and number of rainy days are lower. The rice fields are planted with nothing in the dry season. We hypothesized that hybrid and local composite maize varieties would not differ significantly in terms of nutrient content and biomass yield. The results of this study are expected to be an alternative for utilizing rain-fed rice fields during the dry season to increase the utility of agricultural land, increase farmer income, and improve the availability of nutritious feed.

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Materials and Methods

Corn cultivation was conducted in rice fields in Sidrap Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, from June to September 2023. The research site was at coordinates 3.837026° S latitude and 119.856988° E longitude with an altitude of 60 meters above sea level. The average weekly rainfall data for the study period (June 19–September 10, 2023) were obtained from the Sultan Hasanuddin Meteorological Station (BMKG). The results are presented in Figure 1.

Experimental design

This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with two treatments based on corn variety:

1. P1: Lamuru corn (local composite variety)

2. P2: Pioneer P32 corn (hybrid variety)

Each treatment was placed on a 4 × 2-meter plot and repeated five times. Corn seeds were planted with a spacing of 70 cm × 20 cm, so each plot contained 50 plants, or 71,000 plants ha^-1.

Corn plant cultivation

Corn cultivation was carried out using a no-tillage system. Before corn cultivation, spraying is carried out using Supremo ^® weed poison containing Isopropyl Amine Glyphosate 480 g l^-1 with a dose of 3 l ha^-1. Weeding was performed at the age of 15 days after planting using Valaris 550 SC ^® containing 50 g l^-1 mesotrione and 500 g l^-1 atrazine with a dose of 1.5 l ha^-1. Fertilization was performed twice: the first fertilization at 9 days after planting using NPK 15:15:15 150-kg ha^-1 and urea 120-kg ha^-1. The second fertilization was at the age of 30 days after planting, using NPK 15:15:15 250 kg ha^-1 and urea 150 kg ha^-1 as referred to (Badan Litbang Pertanian, 2018). Pest control was performed once at the age of 48 days after planting using Emazo 75 EC^® containing Emamectin benzoate 75 g l^-1 with a dose of 0.5 l ha^-1.

Research parameters

The following parameters were studied:

1. Nutrient content: dry matter content, crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract, nitrogen-free extract (NFE), ash, NDF, acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and acid detergent lignin (ADL).

2. Biomass yield: dry matter biomass, crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract, NFE, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, ADL.

3. Carrying capacity: based on dry matter.

4. Potential weight gains during fattening and milk yields in dairy cows.

Fig. 1. Climatological conditions of South Sulawesi June-September 2023 (BMKG, 2024). Tn: Minimum temperature.

Tx: Maximum temperature. Tavg: Average temperature. RH: Air humidity. RR: Average weekly rainfall. HH: Number of rainy days in 1 week (processed).

Data collection

Data were collected randomly on 5 plants for each variety that were at least in the second row. Harvesting occurred at the ½ milk stage, approximately 81 days after planting. The fresh weight of the corn plants was measured by cutting 20 cm from the ground surface and then measuring the weight of the stems, cobs, and leaves using a scale. Corn plant samples were then chopped and placed into paper bags to measure dry matter and nutrient contents. The dry matter content was measured in an oven at 65⁰C until the sample weight was constant. The nutrient content of the corn plants analyzed includes crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, NFE, and ash, referring to (AOAC, 2012) ADF, NDF, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and acid-insoluble ash (AIA) content, referring to (Van Soest et al., 1991). Carrying Capacity (CC) is calculated based on dry matter yield using the following equation:

Description:

CC: Carrying capacity (AU ha^-1 year^-1)

Forage yield: dry matter (DM) (kg ha^-1)

1 AU: Animal Unit (Cattle 1,000 lb or 455 kg)

Feed 1 AU=12 kg DM days^-1 (Mclennan et al., 2020)

The potential weight gain of fattening cattle was calculated using the following equation:

Forage ratio=60%

FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio) in DM=0.127 kg kg^-1 DM

FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio) in crude protein (CP)=2.405 kg kg^-1 CP (Zhang et al., 2020)

The equation calculated the potential milk yield for dairy cattle:

Forage ratio=50%

4 percent FCM (Feed conversion ratio milk 4% fat) in DM=1.28 kg kg^-1 DM

4 percent FCM (Feed conversion ratio milk 4% fat) in DM=14.60 kg kg^-1 CP (Colombini et al., 2012)

Data analysis

Data were analyzed using a T-test with IBM SPSS version 23 to compare the effects of different corn plant varieties. Prior to statistical analysis, data were checked for normality to ensure the validity of the T-test results.

Ethical approval

Not needed for this study.

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Results

Land suitability

Based on the soil chemical parameters (Table 1), the rice fields exhibit very suitable conditions for organic carbon (C-organic), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The C/N ratio and nitrogen (N) content are considered suitable, while the soil pH is moderately suitable. However, the soil moisture content is classified as less than ideal for optimal corn growth during the dry season.

Nutrient content of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season

The nutrient contents of the corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season are presented in Table 2. Statistical analysis of the nutrient content of corn plants of the Lamuru and Pioneer P32 varieties showed that the differences in nutrition were only in the dry matter of the stalks and the whole plant, as well as the ether extract content of the stalks. The Pioneer P32 corn had a higher dry matter content (p < 0.05) in both the stalks and the whole plant compared to Lamuru corn, while no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the dry matter content of the leaves and cobs. In contrast, Lamuru corn stalks had a higher ether extract content (p < 0.05) than Pioneer P32 corn, but no significant differences were found in the ether extract content of the leaves, cobs, or whole plant (p > 0.05). Additionally, the content of crude protein, crude fiber, NFE, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and AIA in the stalks, leaves, cobs, and whole plant of Lamuru and Pioneer P32 corn was not significantly different.

Biomass yields of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season

Table 3 shows the biomass yields of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, NFE, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and AIA in parts of the corn plants of Lamuru and Pioneer P32 varieties cultivated in rice fields in the dry season. Statistical analysis showed that biomass yields in stems, cobs, and whole plants in dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, NFE, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and AIA were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Meanwhile, the crude fiber yield of Lamuru corn was higher (p < 0.05) than that of Pioneer P32 corn leaves. However, the yields of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, NFE, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and AIA in the two corn varieties were not significantly different (p > 0.05).

Table 1. Suitability of soil profile for corn cultivation.

Centesimal composition of corn plants grown in rice fields during the dry season

The statistical analysis presented in Table 4 showed that corn varieties had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the centesimal composition of the stems, leaves, and cobs concerning the yield of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, NFE, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and AIA. The centesimal composition analysis of biomass DM for corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season revealed that corn stalks contained 41.05% DM for Lamuru and 40.92% for Pioneer P32, corn leaves contained 14.60% DM for Lamuru and 11.47% for Pioneer P32, and corn cobs contained 44.34% DM for Lamuru and 47.61% for Pioneer P32.

Carrying capacity, average daily gains (ADG), and milk yield potential

The corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season produced forage with a carrying capacity of 2.74 AU for Lamuru and 2.85 AU for Pioneer P32 (Table 5). The use of corn fodder for fattening cattle showed potential for ADG of 2,539.51 kg ha^-1 and 2,644.18 kg ha^-1 based on DM, or 2,649.17 kg ha^-1 and 2,544.31 kg ha^-1 based on CP for the Lamuru and Pioneer P32 varieties, respectively. For dairy cattle, the potential milk yield from corn fodder was 30,714.09 kg ha^-1 and 31,980.00 kg ha^-1 based on DM, or 32,167.81 kg ha^-1 and 30,894.61 kg ha^-1 based on CP, respectively. The statistical analysis indicated that there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in carrying capacity, potential weight gain based on DM, potential weight gain based on CP, potential milk yield based on DM, or potential milk yield based on CP between the Lamuru and Pioneer P32 varieties cultivated in rice fields during the dry season.

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Discussion

Nutrient content of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season

Understanding the nutrient content of each part and the whole corn plant is essential for evaluating biomass and nutrient yield, conducting economic analyses, and estimating carrying capacity. The overall dry matter content of the corn plants in this study was consistent with findings by (Ferreira and Brown, 2016) under drought conditions, but lower than the average dry matter content reported for maize globally (Jara Galeano et al., 2021; Neumann et al., 2021; García-Chávez et al., 2022). The overall crude protein content was similar to that reported by (Ferreira and Brown, 2016), but lower than the findings by (Nazli et al., 2019) and higher than those of (Cusicanqui and Lauer, 1999; Neumann et al., 2021; García-Chávez et al., 2022). The ether extract content in this study was lower than the global average for maize (García-Chávez et al., 2022). The NFE content was higher than the worldwide average of maize (García-Chávez et al., 2022). The ADF content was lower than the results from Jara (Jara Galeano et al., 2021), while the NDF content was similar to findings from (Jara Galeano et al., 2021) under high air temperatures but lower than the global average for maize. Even under drought conditions, the nutrient content of corn plants in this study was not significantly different from that of other studies. This is because plants have tolerance to drought through mechanisms that provide maintenance of turgor pressure through osmotic adjustment, increased elasticity in cells, and decreased cell size through protoplasmic resistance (Zia et al., 2021). The difference in nutrient content among corn plants is more a consequence of differences in planting age (Indriani et al., 2021).

Table 2. Nutrient content of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season.

Table 3. The biomass yield of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season.

Table 4. Centesimal composition of corn plants grown in rice fields during the dry season.

Table 5. Carrying capacity, ADG potential, and milk yield potential of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season.

The dry matter content of corn plants in this study was still in a good range for making corn silage, which was around 30% according to (Moran, 2005) or below 50% according to (McDonald et al., 2011). Low dry matter content can reduce silage pH (Der Bedrosian et al., 2012), and low silage pH can reduce palatability and weight gain in livestock (Sievert and Shaver, 1993). Fodder with a dry matter content of more than 50% causes incomplete fermentation, produces silage with a high pH, and unwanted bacteria such as Clostridia continue to grow (Muck et al., 2020). The CP content of the corn plants used in this study can meet the CP requirements for pregnant cows, but the CP requirements for lactating cows, steers, and lactating dairy cows require additional concentrate. Pregnant cows require feed with an average CP content of 7.5%; lactating cows with a body weight of 900 lbs and a milk production of 20 lbs require feed with a CP content of 10.6%; steers weighing 300 lbs with an ADG of 2 lbs require feed with a CP content of 16.2% (Lalman and Holder, 2024); and tropical lactating dairy cows require feed with a CP content of 12%–18% (Moran, 2005).

The low ether extract content is likely caused by drought stress in plants. Drought stress causes the leaf surface area to decrease (Aslam et al., 2015), which causes the rate of photosynthesis to decrease (Yan et al., 2023), and the accumulation of energy reserves decreases (Syahruddin et al., 2023), including the total ether extract content (Yin et al., 2024). However, low ether extract content does not affect the nutrient adequacy of ruminant livestock. (McDonald et al., 2011) explained that the ether extract content of ruminant feed should not be more than 2%–3%; if the fat content is more than 5%, it can reduce feed digestibility. The fiber content of both crude fibers, NDF, and ADF, of corn plants in this study exceeded the minimum limit required for rumen health. Ruminant livestock require feed containing a minimum of 17% crude fiber, 30% NDF, and 19% ADF for rumen health (Moran, 2005).

The biomass yield of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season

Table 4 presents the biomass yields of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, NFE, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and AIA of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season as silage material. The biomass and nutrient yields of the Lamuru and Pioneer P32 corn varieties followed similar patterns. The highest dry matter biomass yield was observed in cobs, followed by stems and leaves. Similarly, the highest crude protein, ether extract, and NFE yields were observed in the cobs, followed by the stems and leaves. The crude fiber yield was highest in the stems, followed by the cobs and leaves. The ash and ADF yields were also highest in the stems. NDF yield was highest in the cobs, followed by the stems and leaves, whereas cellulose yield was highest in the stems, followed by the cobs and leaves. Hemicellulose and lignin yields were highest in the cobs, followed by the stems and leaves, with AIA yields also being highest in the cobs.

The total biomass yields of Lamuru and Pioneer P32 corn plants in this study were 11.998 tons ha^–¹ DM and 12.492 tons ha^–¹ DM, respectively. These results are consistent with studies by (Burken et al., 2013; Ferreira and Brown, 2016; Jara Galeano et al., 2021), but lower than the global average biomass yield of corn (García-Chávez et al., 2022) and lower than the findings of (Neumann et al., 2021). The crude protein yield in this study was 1.102 tons ha^–¹ for Lamuru and 1.058 tons ha^–¹ for Pioneer P32, which is consistent with the research of (Jara Galeano et al., 2021), but it is lower than the global average (García-Chávez et al., 2022) and the University of Kentucky report (Kenimer et al., 2023). The ether extract yield was 337 kg ha^–¹ for Lamuru and 281 kg ha^–¹ for Pioneer P32, both of which are lower than the global average (García-Chávez et al., 2022). The NFE yield was 7,324 tons ha^–¹ for Lamuru and 7.913 tons ha^–¹ for Pioneer P32, higher than the global average (García-Chávez et al., 2022). The ADF yield was 3.649 tons ha^–¹ for Lamuru and 3.687 tons ha^–¹ for Pioneer P32, similar to the results of (Jara Galeano et al., 2021), but lower than the values reported by Kenimer et al. (2023). The NDF yield was 7,709 tons ha^–¹ for Lamuru and 7,771 tons ha^–¹ for Pioneer P32, which is comparable to the world average (García-Chávez et al., 2022) and the University of Kentucky data (Kenimer et al., 2023). The cellulose yield in this study was 2.956 tons ha^–¹ for Lamuru and 2.917 tons ha^–¹ for Pioneer P32, which is higher than the findings (Jara Galeano et al., 2021). The hemicellulose yield was 4.060 tons ha^–¹ for Lamuru and 4.006 tons ha^–¹ for Pioneer P32, which is higher than the results from (Jara Galeano et al., 2021). The lignin yield was 0.637 tons ha^–¹ for Lamuru and 0.716 tons ha^–¹ for Pioneer P32, consistent with the results reported by Jara Galeano et al. (2021). Although Pioneer P32 corn had a higher dry matter content (Table 2), it did not produce more dry matter biomass (Table 3) because the fresh matter biomass yield of Lamuru corn was higher.

The biomass yield in this study was lower than expected, mainly due to reduced DM yield from the leaves and cobs. Research by (Neumann et al., 2021) reported an average leaf yield of 4.424 tons ha^–¹ DM and an average cob yield of 17.081 tons ha^–¹ DM. The corn plants in this study were likely affected by drought stress, as evidenced by the rainfall data (Fig. 1), which showed zero rainfall from the 6th to the 12th week after planting, and soil water content (Table 1). According to (Kenimer et al., 2023), drought stress during the vegetative stage reduces the surface area of corn plants, and (Poudel, 2023) reported that drought stress during the tasseling phase can reduce yields by 22%–50%. Drought during the post-silking period did not change water content in the leaves, but significantly reduced the number and weight of corn seeds (Ye et al., 2020). Drought in corn plants can also decrease biomass yield on leaves by 16.62%, stems by 23.57%, cobs by 55.96%, and total plants by 25.75% in the mid-silking period (Kamara et al., 2003).

Centesimal composition of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season

The centesimal compositions of Lamuru and Pioneer P32 corn plants exhibited a uniform pattern. Analysis of the centesimal composition revealed that cob contributed the most to the yields of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, NFE, and hemicellulose, followed by the second largest contribution to crude fiber, ADF, NDF, cellulose, and lignin. Corn stalks, on the other hand, made the largest contribution to crude fiber, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, and lignin, and they contributed secondarily to the yields of dry matter, crude protein, NFE, and hemicellulose, and the least to the ether extract. The corn leaves also contributed to the yield of the ether extract. Nevertheless, they made the smallest contribution to the yields of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, NFE, ADF, NDF, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The only differences in composition patterns were observed in the contributions of ash and AIA to the yields.

The high contribution of corn stalks and the low contribution of cobs to the dry matter biomass yield of corn plants may be attributed to drought stress experienced by the plants during the seed-filling stage. (Poudel, 2023) reported that drought stress inhibits leaf growth, leading to stunted development. Additionally, (Aslam et al., 2015) reported that drought stress can lead to curled leaves, reduced leaf area, and smaller plant height and stalk circumference. This stress during the seed-filling stage can decrease corn seed yield by up to 70%, resulting from reduced embryo volume, delayed seed-filling time, increased endosperm death, and a shortened effective seed-filling period (Poudel, 2023). Future studies should also incorporate soil moisture monitoring after rainfall events to better understand water availability for crop growth.

Carrying capacity, ADG, and milk yield potential of corn plants cultivated in rice fields during the dry season

Based on dry matter biomass yield, corn cultivation in rice fields during the dry season offers a carrying capacity of 2.74 AU ha^-1 for the Lamuru variety and 2.85 AU ha^-1 for the Pioneer P32 variety. The use of corn cultivated in rice fields during the dry season as feed for fattening cattle showed a potential weight gain ADG of 2,539.51 kg ha^-1 for Lamuru and 2,644.18 kg ha^-1 for Pioneer P32, based on dry matter biomass yield. When calculated based on crude protein biomass yield, the potential ADG was slightly higher: 2,649.17 kg ha^-1 for Lamuru and 2,544.31 kg ha^-1 for Pioneer P32. Regarding dairy cattle feed, based on dry matter biomass yield, the potential milk yield is 30,714.09 kg ha^-1 for Lamuru and 31,980.00 kg ha^-1 for Pioneer P32. Based on crude protein biomass yield, the milk yield potential increased to 32,167.81 kg ha^-1 for Lamuru and 30,894.61 kg ha^-1 for Pioneer P32. Although the dry matter biomass yield of both corn varieties in this study was low, their carrying capacity was higher than that reported for pastures in Indonesia (Rinduwati, 2017; Amah et al., 2022; Gunawas et al., 2023). The carrying capacity of corn plants in this study was also higher than that of agricultural waste, including rice straw, corn straw, soybean straw, peanut straw, cassava shoots, and sweet potato straw, as reported (Syamsu et al., 2003).

Potential weight gains and milk yields were calculated by dividing the total biomass yield by the percentage of fodder in the total feed and multiplying by the feed conversion value. According to (Rouillé et al., 2023), feed conversion efficiency is the ratio of the amount of feed (kg DM from crude fiber and concentrate) consumed per kilogram of milk or meat produced. Research by (Zhang et al., 2020) fattening cattle using a 60:40 corn silage to concentrate ratio with a total dry matter feed consumption of 11 kg showed a weight gain of 1.40 kg. Similarly, (Colombini et al., 2012) researched dairy cattle using a 50:50 corn silage to concentrate ratio, with 20 kg of dry matter feed consumption, resulting in 25 kg of milk yield.

The potential for weight gain and milk yield in the Lamuru and Pioneer P32 corn varieties differed when calculated based on dry matter biomass yield versus crude protein biomass yield. Based on dry matter biomass yield, Pioneer P32 offers higher potential weight gain and milk yield than Lamuru. However, when calculated based on the crude protein biomass yield, the Lamuru variety performed better than Pioneer P32. This difference can be attributed to variations in dry matter biomass yield and crude protein content between the two corn varieties. The Pioneer P32 strain had a higher dry matter biomass yield than Lamuru (Table 3). However, Lamuru had a higher crude protein content (Table 2), resulting in a greater crude protein yield compared to Pioneer P32 (Table 3).

Based on these findings, the Pioneer P32 variety is more advantageous in regions with low concentrate prices because it optimizes corn as a fiber source. In contrast, Lamuru corn is more suitable for regions with high concentrate prices because its higher crude protein content allows for reduced concentrate use in feed formulations. Another thing, as the cost of corn seeds is a consideration, the Lamuru corn variety is more profitable because the price of Lamuru corn seeds is lower. In addition, cultivated Lamuru corn beans can be used as seeds. This finding follows the report (Singh et al., 2023), which reported that farmers in India prefer to use composite corn as a fodder producer for silage production.

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Conclusion

The study concluded that the Pioneer P32 corn variety has a higher percentage of dry matter than the Lamuru variety. However, the nutrient contents of the two varieties of corn plants did not differ significantly. The production of dry matter biomass and nutrients of corn plants of the Lamuru and Pioneer P32 varieties did not differ significantly, either. The carrying capacity, ADG, and milk yield potential of corn plants of the Lamuru and Pioneer P32 varieties did not differ significantly. It should be noted that this study was conducted over a single growing season. Therefore, further multiseason and multilocation studies are recommended to validate these findings under different environmental conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We want to sincerely thank PUSLAPDIK and LPDP for funding this research. We also extend our thanks to Hasanuddin University for their support and encouragement throughout this study.

Conflict of interest

All authors whose names are listed certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest, or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by Indonesian Education Scholarship, Center for Higher Education Funding and Assessment, and the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education.

Authors’ contributions

Nurul Purnomo: Designed the study, conducted the experiments, performed the laboratory analyses, data collection and analysis, drafted the manuscript.

Asmuddin Natsir: Designed the study, supervised and coordinated the experimental work, data analysis, and drafted the manuscript.

Ismartoyo: Designed and supervised the study, data analysis, and drafted the manuscript.

Ambo Ako: Designed and supervised the study, data analysis, and drafted the manuscript.

All authors critically revised the manuscript and approved the final version.

Data availability

Data available on a limited basis.

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