Effect of Harvesting Time and Phosphate Bio fertilizers on the Nutritive Value of Two Maize Varieties

Two Maize (Zea mays) varieties namely (Hudibia and Mugtama) and two harvesting times were used in this study to evaluate the effect of inorganic phosphorous(P2O5) and phosphate biofertilizers namely, Bacillus, mycorrhiza and the combination of them on maize forage quality. The evaluation was done by determining the percentage of CP, EE, OM, NDF, ADF, ADL, in vitro dry matter digestibility, and in situ degradability. A significant difference (P<0.05) was found between the two varieties for all parameters except for CP. Early time of harvest had the highest value of CP, EE, OM and DMD, and the lowest value of NDF, ADF and ADL. The highest percentage of organic matter (89.45%) was found for the treatment with bacteria alone, while the highest percentage of CP (12.9%) was found for the combination between bacteria and mycorrhiza, while the lowest percentage was found for the control. The highest value of DMD was recorded for the combination between bacteria and mycorrhiza while the lowest value was found for the control. The effect of inorganic phosphorous source (P2O5) and phosphorous biofertilizers on the fiber types was significant (P<0.05). For NDF the lowest value (52.52 %) was recorded in the combination between bacteria and mycorrhiza, while for ADF the combination between inorganic phosphorous and bacteria secured the lowest value (39.98). The highest readily degradable faction (a) was found in the Hudibia variety when fertilized by inorganic phosphorous + mycorrhiza, while the highest slowly degradable fraction (b) was found in the Mugtamaa Varity when fertilized by phosphorous+ bacteria. The highest potential degradability (PD) was found in Mugtamaa variety when fertilized by inorganic phosphorous+ mycorrhiza. From this study, it could be concluded that the combination between bacteria and mycorrhiza improved the nutritive value of the forage by increasing CP and DMD content and decreasing the NDF content.