Nictemeral composition of corn plants: afternoon harvest decreases dry matter recovery and increases silage starch content and in vitro degradation

ABSTRACT: Plants’ physiology changes through the day because photoassimilates can increase water-soluble carbohydrate concentration in the afternoon compared to the morning. This study evaluated the harvest time effect on whole-plant corn silage morphological composition, particle size, fermentation profile, chemical composition, in vitro degradation, and estimated milk yield. A two-year agronomic assay was performed in a completely random design, and one experimental silo was produced by each parcel (n = 16). The afternoon harvest increased (P < 0.01) dry matter content compared to the morning harvest. Harvest time did not affect (P ≥ 0.32) corn grain, stalk, leaf proportion, and silage particle size. However, the morning harvest increased dry matter recovery (P = 0.01) and had no effect (P ≥ 0.10) on silage pH and concentrations of lactic and acetic acid compared to the afternoon harvest. In addition, afternoon harvest instead of morning harvest increased (P ≤ 0.05) silage starch, water-soluble carbohydrates, acid detergent lignin, and ether extract content and dry matter in vitro degradation. Controversially, treatments showed no effect (P ≥ 0.14) on silage energy concentration, estimated energy content, and milk yield. Thus, the morning harvest produces more silage dry matter, but the afternoon harvest improves corn silage’s nutritional value with no impact on estimated milk yield.