Correlation analysis between plant age and main quantitative traits of silage maize

The plant height, dry weight per plant, leaf dry weight, grain dry weight, fresh weight per plant, ear leaf area, initial moisture content of plant, feeding coefficient and economic coefficient with the different ages of silage maize （Zea mays） were measured to choose the suitable harvesting time for improving feeding quality and reducing production cost in this study. Ten days age (plant age) was considered as independent variable and the correlation relationships between plant age and quantitative traits were determined by the regression and correlation analysis. The results of this study showed that the probit of the initial moisture content of plants showed a significantly negative correlation relationship with the ten days age; however, and frequency of other seven quantitative traits or probit of cumulative frequency of other seven quantitative traits showed a significantly positive correlation relationship with the ten days age. The regression equation was used to simulate the major growth period of seven quantitative traits.