IK VESTIGATION UPON MAIZE. *
I n the Spring of lSS8 the writer planned and began a series of investigations upon maize, for the purpose of gaining information upon several mooted questions, particularly the following : 1. What chemical changes take place i n maize as it approaches maturity ? 2 . In what stage of maturity is it most advisable to cut maize for ensilage !' 3. What chemical changes take place in, and what loss results from the process of converting maize into ensilage? 4. What is the loss and what the nature of the chemical changes that take place in maize during the process of field and barn c11r in g ? 5 . What is t h e digestibilify of, and what the relative nutritive value of the above soveral products !' These experiments and investigations, begun in 1SS8, were continued into the Winter of 1889-90, when it became necessary to abandon all efforts at legitimate scientific rosearch, and, while many data were secured the work of research can hardly be said to have reached any satisfactory state of completion-in fact, i t is hardly begun as origiiially outlined. That the writer will not have an opportunity to carry the investigation further, seems a *The data f o r a part of the first of this article will be many found in t h e eighth annual report of the New P o r k Agricultural Experiment Station. Some of the data relating to the digestibility of ensilage and fieldcured maize may be found in a paper, " Ensilage and Dry Fodder," presented to the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science at the Indianapolis meeting, August, 1890. The whole is here brought together i n order t h a t it may be made more accessible, and much data heretofore unpublished included.
justifiable re1tso11for presentii!g these fragmentary notes to serve as landmarks to tliose who may be cngagetl in similar lines of research. T h e first yoar little more wits accomplished than to inaugurate the work and t o go carefully over the ground to see what was needed ; besides, the maize grown, a Southern variety (Burrill and Whitman) could not possibly mature i n Central ?Jew York, and this proved an obstavlc t o our work. T h e field under experiment contained :Llittle less than two acres; one-half was c u t September 11, the remainder September 29. A t the first date the maize varied from silking to watery stage of kernel, and the last from water? t o milky stage. The yield per acre was as follows : Sept. 11. Lbs.
Sept. 29. Lh.
Total maize per acre- - - - .- ..- - 25,326 2 5,O 11 Water- - - - - - - - - - - . - - - ..20,323 19,SCil D r y matter _ _ . . _ . _ _ _5,004 _ _ _ _ _ 3,660 _ _ _ _ Ash .... - _ - - . - . - -_-__ - -__ _ _ _ 2l.i ‘?37 ,>13 Albuminoids .....- - - - - - - - _ _ >:?a Crude fibre _ _ _ _ _ _ - __ _ _ - ._ - -. 1.443 1,(LjO Nitrogen-free extract.. - - - ...2,CBG 3,109 1% 1 S8 F a t (ether extract) -. .- - - -
__
____
On further investigation we find t h e changes that have taken place to be niaiiily in the albuminoids and nitrogen-free extract, and t,he extent of these changes is shown by the following : Sept. 11. Lbs.
Sept. 99. Lbs.
Total nitrogen _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . __ _ __ ___ S4 81 67 Albuminoid nitrogen.. - _ _ - - - - - 50 Amide nitrogen. _ _ _ - _ _._ _ - -.. 34 14 Invert sugar _ _ _ _ . . _ _ __ _ _. _ __ - _ >SO 751 Sucrose _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _390 . _ _ _ . . 634 _ . _ _ 1,077 Starch.. - - - - - - - -..- - .- .- - - - - 908 We first note t h a t there was no increase in total nitrogeneven an apparent loss-but t h a t much of the nitrogen in t h e form of aniides was transformed into albuminoids, and this trans-
formation and translocation our experiments have invayiably seemed to show to be accompanied by a. loss of nitrogen, and it would seem natural that this should be so. While there was an increase of 413 pounds in nitrogen-free extract between the two periods of harvesting, the sugars and starches included in the nitrogen-free extract increased 383 pounds, showing that much which was in a transitory state had been built u p to higher and more organized products-sugar and starch. INVESTIGATIONS IK
1889.
Without further considering these results we pass to the investigation made the second year. This season, 1889, a flint variety of maize (King Philip) that would in any favorable season mature a good starid of ears, was selected for the mairi experiment, although the same variety as grown the previous year was under trial. In a field of about twelve acres, one acre, representative of the whole field was selected for experimental work. This acre was divided into five equal lots to be cut at different times, representing various stages of growth and to serve as a basis for our calculations and chemical examinations. From each cutting eight samples were taken for analyses, so we have as fair an average as seemed possible to secure from R product so difficult to sample. T h e dates of cutting and stage of growth were A S follows : Stage of Growth. Date of Cutting. July 30- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - F u l l tasseled. - - F u l l silked. August 9 - - - - - - - - August 31 - - - - - - - - - - - - -Kernels watery to full milk. September 7 - - - - - - - - - - -Kernels glazing. September 2 3 - - - - - - - --Ripe.
__~
The yield of maize per acre and the per cent. of water in same were as follows :
____
Pounds P e r Acre.
July 30 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ August 9. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - August 21 - - - - . - - - - - - - September 7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - September 23 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
__
Pel*Cent. Water.
18,043 25,745 32,000 32,299:,
91.05 88.0:) 85.766
28,4GO
72.18
c (4.10
*I.
37.2
TNVESTIGATION UPON I I A I Z E , D R T MATTEK HARVESTED PJSR A ( ' H E .
F r o m the data already given we may calculate the amount of dry matter actually harvested at. the several stages of growth : Mnize, tons Per Acre.
Tons Water Per Acre.
J u l y 30. - - - - - .- .9.02 August 9 - - - - _ _12.87 _ . .Iugust 2 1 . . . _ _ _ _ 16.30 September 7 - - - - - 16.14 September 23 - - - - 14.23
3.01 11.33 1s.9;
12.51 10.97
Tons Dry MattelPer Acre.
.81 1.54 .> 7 3
n. c
3.63 3.96
The above table is suggestive, a n d confirms what has been repeatedly asserted, that maize so plaiited as to come only to the tasseling or silking stage of growth, is principally water a n d furnishes but little nutritive m:itter to animals forced t o eat t h e forage. The ciiemical composition of the maize cnt a t the sereral dates in respect to d r y substance is given below : J u l y 30. Aug. 9.
Aug. 21.
Ash _ _ _ _ . . . _ _ S.53 _ _ _ _ _ _ 5.00 _ 6.34 10.31 Albuminoids-- - - - - _ _ 14.881 14.10 28.36 ?;.18 Crrude libre __ . .31.76 _ Kitrogen-free ex't40.39 45.46 ,53.5S Fat _ _ _ _ _ _ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4.46 5.45 4.93 1.(is Total nitrogen _ _ . _ ?.37_ _'1.97 1.30 Alb. nitrogen _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1.69 1.45 .35 Amide nitrogen - - - - .68 .S2 14.32 9.76 Invert sugar _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3.60 3.60 '1.30 Sucrose _ _ . _ _ _ -56 _ _ _ _ _ _ 13.?0 19.96 Starch .... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 ; . 5 5
__
Sept. 7. Sept. 23.
4.20
8.94 24.38 53.8';
3.60 1.43 1.09 .34
10.00 1.3'1 '14.09
4.60 8.56 21.90 60.97 3.97 1.37 1.15
.23 6. SO
1.88 36.02
The chemical composition gives b u t a small idea of t h e real changes that have taken place; this can only be learned by considering the totals which are given in the following :
INVES'TIGb'rIOS UPON JIAIXE.
Tasseled Jnly 30. lbs.
Sillred Milk Glazed Ripe Aug. 9. Aug. 21. Sept. 7. Sept. 23. lbs. €bs. lbs. lbs.
Yield per acre _ _ _ _ _ _ 8,043 25,745 Water per acre- - - 16,426 22,G66 Dry matter per acre- 1,619 3,075 Ash _ - - - - - - - - - - - _ _ - 139 201 Albuminoids - - _ _ 240 437 Crude fibre_ _ _ _ _ 514 873 Nitrogen-free ex%--654 1,399 F a t - - - - - - - - - - - -.- - 72 168 Total nitrogen - - - - - 35 70 Albuminoid nitrogen 27 45 Amide nitrogen----11 25 Invert sugar . _ _ - __ _58 300 Sucrose - - - - - - - - - - - 9 111 Starch . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1_2 _ 2 ._ _ 491
__
__
__
373
32,600 37,057 4,643 232 479 1,262 2,441 229
3'3,295 25,003 7,202 302 644 1,75G 4,240 260 cc i ( 103 GO 78 1'1 24 665 720 129 95 735 ( 0i I y r (
28,460 20,542 7,918 364 678 1,734 4,828 314
108 91 17 538 149 2,853
The last table indicates several interesting features not the least of which is the seeming confirmation of a previous observation. That is that in the gr&vtli of the maize plant there are two periods of little or no increase in total nitrogen. The first is during the early formatioii of the ear, between the period of silking and watery stage of kernels; thc other between the periods of glazing and full maturity. I n fact, while I have not the necessary data to show it, yet I feel confident from observations made that there is at these times not only no material increase in the nitrogenous constituents, but that there is an a c t n d loss of 111 trogen incident to the transformation and translocation going on a t this time in the plant. This would suggest the possibility of au advantage to be derived by making application of easily soluble nitrogenous fertilizers at two distinct periods in the life of the maize plant. We may also note the merked increase of starch during the latter stage of the maturation. h s maize is preeminently a carbonaceous plant and as starch its most valuablc constituent to be preserved, we can see the importance of allowing the plant to come as near to full maturity as is possible, and a t the same time of allowing i t to be utilized for
the purpose designed. Observation has shown t h a t if maize is to be grown for ensilage, maturation may proceed too far, so far t h a t if the plant be stored i n the silo it will mould, decay, ~ n become d almost or eveii quite worthless for feeJing. It is important t h a t we possess more definite knowledge on this particular point, and our investigation w:is continued with t h a t end i i i view. X A I Z E FOR T H E SILO.
F o r furthering our work, two silos of about eleven tons' capacity each were available. Of eacli silo three sides were of cement and one of wood. Incidentally we may remark that the ensilage was much better preserved on those sides where the contact was with wood than on those with cemeri t. One of the silos wits filled with the dent variety of maize (13. and W. corn) a t about the milky stage of the kernel, September 5 . This maize, after i t was carefully weighed, was sampled for analyses as it was passed througli a n ensilage cutter that cut the stalk into one and one-fourth inch pieces. Twenty-seven samples were taken for water determination, and these were united into four lotst representing various depths in the silo, and complete analyses made for each lot. The second silo was filled September 13, with thc flint variety of maize, between the Stage of glazing and full maturity: as indicated in a previous table, showing the compositioii of the maize c u t a t the various stages of growth. We now have t w o silos filled with maize a t t w o stages of g r o w t h ; it would be better were t'hey of the same variety, but we will continue the comparison under the conditions as they exist. E S S I L A G G FROM I M M A T U R E M A I Z E .
The silo filled with immature maize September 5 was opened on October 10, the top or surface having been covertJc1 in t ~ i cmeantime with tarred paper and lightly weighted about t h e corners of the silo. The results of the ;tiialyses of the maize its 1)ut into the silo and of the ensilage iLs taken out is sliowii in the next table. A represents the ensilage from tlic bottom of the pit and E t h a t from the surface.
INVESTIGATIOK
375
UPON MIAIZE.
ANALYSES OF IJIMATURE MAIZE FOR ENSILAQE.
*.4NALYSES OF ENSILAGE FROM IJIJIATURE YAIZE. ~
Ensilage A _ _ _ _
''
'( "
__
B C____ D_ _ _ _
83.37 82.98 82.18 54.11
I
16.63 1'7.02 17.82 15.59,
5.84 4.32 6.02 5.98
!:til 9.25 9.12
32.3'2 32.1'7 31.58 33.36 33.12
44.71 50.13 45.88 45.73 44.26
7.76 4.32 4.47 5.81 3.81
--
32.50 46.71 5.23 T h e sample A contains less mater than the average for the silo, yet in removing the last foot of ensilage from the bottom of the pit, there was so much juice that it would ooze quite rapidly through the open spaces in the box used for weigliing up the ensilage. T h e low per cent. of mator in the ensilage, from the bottom of the silo was sometliing of a surprise, but it seems, from our own and other experiments, that there was probably a diffusion of solnbie matter from above into the lower part of tlic silo, so t h a t this liquia probably contained in solution or suspension considerable solid matter. During the 36 days that the maize remained in the silo there was a loss in total weight of 5.13 per cent., and of dry matter, as calculated from the water determination, of 13.50 per cent. I t should be borne in mind t h a t these silos *Since our investigation had to do only with the practical side of the question, no account was taken of tlie nitrogen that existed in the ensilage as ammonia, for as such it would be valuless to the agriculturist.
were of sm:tll capacity, 10 to I:! toils oiily. so t h a t we siioultl expect the loss in pr. et. to I x greutei. tliaii for i i h r g e silo of 100 to 150 tons capwity. ‘Phe followiirg table gives t h e :ictnal results :is foniicl f o r the maize :is p ~ i itn t o tile silo. : t i i d tlic ensilage as taken out : 1’111 i i i Silo, I h .
Taken o i i t 0 1 Loss or Gain Silo, lbs. j)ev cent. ?‘?,%I1 .-).13-
Total weight - - - - .. .- - - 2 3 , : W 18,4G(j ..__ Total water-- _ _ - - _ _ _ _ - - - - lS,!JjH :; .s 2 .-I 13..-)0Iota1 d r y iiirltteix- - - - - _ _ - - 4,4?4 Ash._ _ _ _ _ . 20s _ ?o; ,fig--Alhuminoids.. ..... - - .- .. 447 .j49 21.99Crude fibre . _ . . . _ . . . . . l,l!l!) ___ 1,310 !).24+ Sitrogen-free extract. - .. - ?,JOG 1,7;; 2fi.13F a t . ... - - - - -.. . . _..- - - l(i:l 1s2 1t.s:;+ * ., Starch .... _ . . _ _ _ _ _ .. _(if!;_ . ;S 3 . Silag,e per cubic foot- - - - .- - - d i . # _ . _ _ In tlic coiiteiits of this silo the loss was niaiiily upon the albuminoids ,and nitrogen-free extract. T h e sugars were nearly all destroyed by fermentation, only about 100 p o m d s remaining against about SO0 put iiito the silo. 1 1
__
,1-
. I -
.).)
n.
FIE1,L) CCKEI).
A t the same time t h a t t h e sccoiid silo W L S filled, another lot of maize from tlie stime field was selocted by taking here and there a bundle, so as to 1i;tve it represent it fair avemge of the entire lot. This was p u t i n shocks in the field and there left for cui'iiig. The maize was cut September 13>and remained standing i n tlie field until October 21, when it was drawn to the barn, weighed, run through the cutter a11d sampled f o r analyses. The following table shows the results of tlie iiivestigatioii : Loss or Gain
Calculat et1 Sept. 1:3, 11)h. -2,XS - 1 ,'; 5 ! ) - - - - - - Sd!)
Total weiglit - - .- Total w;Lter.. .............. ? l lotitl dity matterAs11........................ I!) . . -21bum 11101 d s ............... r) Cj Crude fibre.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . l?!) ?;itrogcn-frce extract ........ F a t ....................... ?;
__
Iota1
? I
i1it1sogeii
..............
Albuniiiioicl ~iitrogeii........
9.1. ,- . i. , 1.4
hniitle Iiitrogeti. ........... Invert s nga r ................ 34. Sucrose .................... 21. Starcli ...................- 2 2 ;.
(i.I
1.5 1.(i
.*.
.)r)
( j,
Undetermiiied
T h e loss of albumiiioids in field curing maize was even greater than f o r the ensilage, and in a period of 38 days, the loss in dry matter amounted 11.25 pet. cent. or nearly as great as for one of the silos. The increase in ash was probably due to the earth t h a t
351
INVESTIOBTION UPON MAIZE:.
adhered to the butts of the stalks since they stood upon the loose soil. The rain during this period was not excessive, but there was much damp, cloudy weather. MAIZE, BARN CURED.
A second lot of maize, taken in the same manner as that for field curing, was reserved for barn curing. This was drawn to the barn, weighed, and then put in good condition for dryingby standing the bundles openly against a fence near the barn. It was hoped this lot might be dried for storing without having any rain fall upon it, but in this we were dis:tppointed, since'one quite heavy rain v e t it down before it was in condition to go into the barn for storing. The bundles were then, put in a barn loft, where they remained until November 13th or just two months from date of harvesting. The results are shown by the following table : Found Nov. 13, lbs.
Loss OP Gain per cent.
1,034 414 G?O 26 43
34.87-
17G 357
17
-_-19.984.74+ 42.G63.G4+ 23.8651,24-
U p to date of closing my connection with the station, I had not found opportunity to complete the further analytical work with this part of the investigation. These results are somewhat astounding, especially regarding loss of albnminoids ; but with the best of care, the Autumn was so damp and cloudy, that the fodder moulded badly in the barn although well spread about in a n open space. Thesp are the results of but single experiments, and need to be repeated again in detail before any positive facts can be ascertained. Yet it would seem from these trials t h a t there is no greater loss of nutritive matter in a eilo properly filled with good
maize, tlian for the same plant, field or barn cured, as is commonly prtictisecl. I ) I G E d T I O S ESl'ERIMEKTS.
IIaving coiisiclered somewhat in detail our investigation with the maize a s growing, as dried fodder and as ensilage, we have now to record tlir result of our experiments for determining the digestibility of its severai products. The digestibility of ensilage from immature maize, from the m:itured aiid for the field cured maize was determined. For our sul.)ject of experimentation w e had two heifers, t h e same animals used in tlie digestion work t h e winter previous. T h e heifer Star was due in calf iii February, while Spot was an uiibred animal. The animals were p u t in t h e esperimvntal feeding barn a t tlie station, October 7'' and precediiig each trial one wcek's preliminary feeding was had with the same fodder and in like quantities as during the digestion proper, in order t h a t the digestive tract might become cleared of all traces of other food. Watchmen were stationed with the aninials night : ~ n dday and the dung and urine caught in separate pails, and a t once transferred to covered galvanized iron receptacles, sufficiently larg'e to hold the voidings for :?ihours. Each noon the dung and urine w i ' e carefully ~veiglied on a Fairbanks silk mile. sensitive to o n e - f o ~ r t hoiince aiid an iiliquot part of the well mixed dung tnken for wkater deterriiiii:ttioii. '1'liese last samples wcm then iinitecl for further analyses. 1:z I ' F RI 11 1 : S'1' so. 1 , 111this t r i d ensilage froni the immature maize was tested. chemical composition of the eiisi1;ige fed was iis follows :
Per C e r t . Y*!.iiS
Water. - - .- - .- ...- ..- .. . - - .- - .. - - - - Dry matter - ..- - - - - - - - . .- - .- .. . - - - I
17.42
The
383
INVESTIGATION UPON JIIAIXE:.
Amide nitrogen - - - - .- - - - - - - - - - - - - . . . 0.58 1.45 Total nitrogen - - . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - . . Invert sugar . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - .- - - - - 2.08 Sucrose.. . . . . , . . . - - - . . - - - - - - - - - - - .36 Starch .. . . . .. _ _ _ _ . . . . - - . - - - 31-20 The weights of the animals for ten consecutive days, the last four being the digestion period proper, are shown below : STAR. SPOT.
. .
.
.. .... ~
lbs.
lbs.
Oct. 10_ - . _ - _ . . . . - - - -1,091 --_ 1,114 " 11 - - - - _ _ . .. . - - - -. - 1,108 1,100 " 12 _ _ - - _ -__ .. .. _ - ..- 1,096 1,086 ' I 1,058 13 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1,08? 1,080
