Determination of the Effects of Zinc Fertilization on Yield and Quality of Silage Corn Varieties

Zinc deficiency which induces problems in plants, human, and animals is the most commonly occurring micronutrient disorder. crop production and nutritional quality of edible parts of crops are decreased by zn deficiency. in this field study, the effects of zinc application on dry matter and silage yields, silage zn, protein, phosphorus and potassium concentrations of ten different corn varieties were investigated in tokat regions. zinc application rates were 0 and 3 kg znso4.7h2o respectively. the dry matter and silage yield of all corn varieties were significant increased (p<0.01). the average dry matter yield was increased from 191 g plant-1 in –zn conditions to 231 g plant-1 with +zn conditions and silage yield was increased from 90 t ha-1 to 102 t ha-1 with zn application. zinc application not only increased the dry matter and silage yields of varieties used in the experiment but also gave rise to substantial increases in the concentrations of zinc and protein contents in green parts of the plants.