Enriquez, Frank Henny B. <br/><br/>
Documentation of the production, utilization and yield of maramais or Teosinte (Zea spp.) as forage crop in Vintar, Ilocos Norte / 
Frank Henny B. Enriquez 
 - City of Batac :  MMSU,   2024. 
 - xii, 65 leaves :   29 cm.  
<br/><br/> Thesis (BS in Agriculture major in Animal Science)  -- Mariano Marcos State University-College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development, Batac City  
<br/><br/>Bibliography : leaves 46-48 
<br/><br/>  A study was conducted to document the production and utilization practices<br/> and yield of teosinte (Zea spp) as forage crop of ruminant raisers in Vintar, Ilocos<br/> Norte. It generally aimed to establish initial data on the farmers’ practices in<br/> cultivating teosinte/maramais. Specifically, the study aimed to: assess the socio<br/>economic profile of farmers cultivating teosinte/maramais as fodder; document the<br/> cultural management practices employed by the farmers in the production of<br/> teosinte/maramais; document the practices of farmers in the utilization of teosinte<br/> /maramais; and determine the herbage and dry matter yields of teosinte/maramais<br/> grown by farmers. A total of 70 respondents were randomly taken using a snowball sampling<br/> method from the 15 different barangays of Vintar, Ilocos Norte. The number of<br/> respondents per barangay ranges from 1-22. They were interviewed using a<br/> structured interview schedule. Moreover, fresh herbage yield of their standing crop<br/> was determined and samples were collected and dry matter yield was determined<br/> through standard oven drying. A descriptive research design was used in the study.<br/>As to socio-demographic profile of the respondents, more than half (57%)<br/> were male ages 45-46 years old and were high school graduates (53%). Seventy<br/> seven (77%) percent of them were married with 1-4 members of the family. They<br/> were engaged in farming for many years, ranging from 1-51 years and above. While<br/> more than a quarter of the respondents are engaged in ruminant production from 47 to<br/> 31 years. Cattle (61%) and cattle + goat (25%) were mostly the ruminants raised by<br/> the farmers. A combination of cut and carry, and grazing were their feeding system<br/> implemented using soilage and some were also using commercial feeds.<br/> Their recorded planting time of teosinte/maramais was May to October and<br/> 96% of them are cultivating in upland areas. Farmers employ broadcast method of<br/> sowing in an area of below 500 sq m to 1000 sq m (66.05%) and some were planting<br/> in area up to 5000 sq m (7.55%) with a seeding rate of 0.5- 20 kg seeds. Likewise,<br/> those who were planting with distinct spaces had an area below 150 sq m to as wide<br/> as 600 sq m and were using a hill spacing of 15 cm-46 cm and a row spacing of 20<br/> cm-45 cm with 3-11 seeds per hill. Majority of the farmers do not irrigate their crops<br/> and solely depend on the rain. When it rains, farmers would apply inorganic fertilizer<br/> any time. The initial harvesting took place at vegetative stage, while the second<br/> cutting took place 31 days-50 days after the first cutting. The average fresh herbage<br/> yield per quadrant is 5.01 kg or 55.27 tons/ha. Tesosinte/maramais planted in<br/> September recorded the highest yield at 5.42 kg/quadrant or 52.74 tons/ha. While<br/> sowing method following a distinct spacing recorded higher yield at 5.86 kg/quadrant<br/> or 64.60 tons/ha compared to broadcast method. On the other hand, the calculated dry<br/> matter content ranges from 15.25- 30.50 percent with an average of 25.67%. Lastly<br/> according to the respondents, teosinte is cultivated for its persistency, moderate and<br/> high yield, simplicity of cultivation and ability to adapt better to enhanced<br/> management.