Determination of yield and plant part ratios of some silage maize varieties under Kahramanmaraş conditions

Silage maize (Zea mays L.) yields high biomass and fermentable carbohydrates per unit area, so it is the primary forage crop in ruminant livestock systems across Türkiye. Cultivar performance varies by location, and yield data for Kahramanmaras are limited. This study compared four silage maize cultivars (DKC7240, 30B74, Colonia, Gladius) for morphological traits, green forage yield, and plant part ratios over the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons in Kahramanmaras. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Variables measured included plant height, first cob height, stem diameter, cob diameter, leaf number, green forage yield, dry matter yield, below-cob and above-cob leaf ratios, below-cob and above-cob stem ratios, and cob ratio. Colonia reached the greatest plant height (230.68 cm); 30B74 had the highest first cob insertion (114.47 cm). DKC7240 produced the highest green forage yield and dry matter yield. Gladius had the largest cob ratio (45.72%), and 30B74 the highest below-cob stem ratio (32.03%). Cultivar x year interaction was significant for plant height, cob diameter, green herbage yield, dry matter yield, below-cob stem ratio, and cob ratio. DKC7240 is recommended for silage production under Kahramanmaras conditions based on its yield across both seasons.