Effect of different fertilizers and no-till versus strip-till on silage maize yield in a dual cropping system

Anotace: The effect of different fertilizers (digestate, Ureastabil) and their combinations with strip-till/no-till technology on yield and selected quality parameters of the maize hybrid KWS Kampinos (FAO 200) in a dual cropping system (winter rye - maize) was assessed in two-year field trials (harvest 2021-2022). A significant influence of year was found in most monitored parameters. A total of 6 variants were compared, 2 variants with no-till and 4 variants with strip-till. After using the strip-till method, the silage maize yield increased significantly (11.8 – 15.4 t DM/ha) compared to the no-till method, either on the unfertilized variant (8.3 t DM/ha) or after applying fertilizer Ureastabil (11.44 t DM/ha). When using the strip-till method, no significant differences in the yield of silage maize (average over 2 years) were demonstrated between these three fertilized variants: Ureastabil (14.03 t DM/ha); digestate + Ureastabil (15.4 t DM/ha), digestate (14.2 t DM/ha) at total dose of 120 kg N/ha for each variant. The dry matter content of the silage biomass was insignificant between all the variants (32.0 – 34.1%). Differences in quality parameters of silage under the influence of fertilization variants were minimal (crude protein, starch, ash, ADF) or none (NDF). From the results obtained, it can be concluded that maize can be successfully grown and fertilized with strip-till soil conservation technology.