Chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of whole-crop maize fertilized with synthetic fertilizer or digestate and harvested at two maturity stages in Boreal growing conditions

Authors

• Mahmoud F. Seleiman Department of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Egypt
• Shaimaa Selim Department of Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt
• Seija Jaakkola Department of Agricultural Sciences, Animal Nutrition, University of Helsinki, Finland
• Pirjo S.A. Mäkelä Department of Agricultural Sciences, Crop Production, University of Helsinki, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.60068

Keywords:

Digestate, heavy metals, in vitro digestibility, nutritive value, Zea mays L.

Abstract

Maize cultivation for silage could be a sustainable option in Boreal conditions, especially when combined with nutrient recycling. Effects of digestate (sludge from biogas of domestic origin) application in comparison with synthetic fertilizer and two maturity stages on chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of whole-crop maize were investigated. Starch, neutral detergent fiber, water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and digestible organic matter (DOM) contents of maize did not differ in response to the two fertilizer treatments. However, starch, DOM and metabolizable energy of maize increased, while ash, crude protein and WSC contents decreased with increasing maize maturity. Heavy metals in maize fertilized with digestate remained low. The results indicate that whole-crop maize fertilized with digestate and harvested at 150 days after sowing is a promising feed and has good nutritive value, even in Boreal conditions.