Effetto della densità colturale e dell'applicazione di fungicidi sulla produzione e la qualità del mais da granella e da trinciato.

In order to enhance maize yield and quality it is necessary evaluate the combined effect of crop practices that can contribute to increase the efficiency of either single plant or crop system. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect on grain and biomass yield and quality of high planting population combined with foliar fungicide treatments against the fungal leaf disease northern corn leaf blight (NCLB). In 2 growing seasons and 2 sites the following factors have been compared following a full factorial design: 2 planting densities (standard with 7.5 plants m-2 and inter-row spacing of 0.75 m; high planting pattern of 10 plants m 2 and inter-row spacing of 0.50 m) and 3 fungicide applications at tassel emission (untreated control, pyraclostrobin, mixture of pyraclostrobin and epoxiconazole). The high planting density positively influenced increased biomass (+15%) grain yield (+17%) and methane yield (+24%) compared to standard one. The fungicide application increased grain yield (+5%) and silage digestibility. This work proved that the combination of high planting density and fungicide application can offer a real yield and quality enhance both on maize grain and biomass.