Yield, Quality Components, and Nitrogen Levels of Silage Corn Fertilized with Urea and Zeolite

Abstract

The zeolite and urea mixture may be use to improve nitrogen (N)–use efficiency of silage corn. The objective of this study was to evaluate dry-matter yield and nutritional levels of N of silage corn fertilized with urea and zeolite mixture. The experimental design was a 2 × 4 × 4 factorial randomized block design with three replications. Treatments included two types of stilbite zeolite (natural and concentrated), four levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100, and 200 kg ha−1), and four ratios of zeolite (25%, 50%, and 100% of N level). Treatments were applied 60 days after planting with the topdressing fertilization. The use of concentrated (650 g kg−1 of stilbite) or natural (470 g kg−1 of stilbite) zeolite with urea increased silage corn dry-matter production and leaf N concentrations.