Department of Animal Feeds and Nutrition, Adet Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 8, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
1 Department of Animal Science, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology Pantnagar-263 145.
A trial to evaluate the influence of maize leaf defoliation at various growth stages on grain, stover yield components of maize and undersown forage production was conducted in 1999 and 2000 crop seasons at Adet Agricultural Research Centre, Northwest Ethiopia. The study consisting of three growth stages of maize (later whorl, si1king and milking) and five rates of maize leaf defoliation (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). Results of the analysis of variance revealed that grain yield of maize was significantly affected by the rates of maize leaf defoliation. There was a significant effect on dry matter yield of stover and defoliated leaf components of maize due to rate of leaf defoliation. Dry matter yield of the undersown forage legume was significantly affected by the rates of maize leaf defoliation. An optimum rate of maize leaf defoliation without affected the grain, stover yield components and dry matter yield for the undersown forage crops was harvested at the rate of 25–50% of defoliation of maize leaf. Therefore, defoliation of maize leaf up to 50% at the time of feed shortage did not have adverse on grain and stover yield components of maize.
