Agriculture is the largest global consumer of freshwater, with an increasing share used for livestock. Hydroponic fodder cultivation is widely cited as a promising alternative with the potential to enhance water use efficiency. This experiment determined optimal conditions for hydroponic maize fodder by evaluating three varieties (BH‐546, Shone, and Local) under three irrigation frequencies (IFs, IF1: once, IF2: twice, IF3: three times per day) over an 8‐day growth cycle. Dry matter yield (DMY), morphology, and chemical composition were assessed. DMY differed significantly among varieties ( p < 0.01) and IFs ( p < 0.05), but not their interaction. Among the tested varieties and IFs, the highest DMYs were recorded for BH‐546 (28.25 tons ha −1 ) and IF2 (24.92 tons ha −1 ). The Shone variety yielded the highest stem weight (4.96 t ha −1 ). A significant variety × IF interaction ( p < 0.01) affected key morphological traits: BH‐546 × IF3 produced the highest leaf weight (6.52 t ha −1 ) and root mass (18.95 t ha −1 ), while Local × IF3 achieved maximum plant height (PH, 23.00 cm), leaf length (LL, 13.80 cm), and leaf number per plant (3.00). Chemical composition, except for ether extract, was significantly influenced by variety × IF interactions. The BH‐546 × IF3 combination yielded the highest dry matter (26.19%), ash (5.63%), and crude protein (CP, 20.34%) content, while Local × IF2 had the highest fiber fractions (CF 13.51%, NDF 52.97%, ADF 19.67%, and ADL 10.20%). Morphological and chemical traits showed strong and highly significant correlations. The strongest association occurred between acid detergent fiber and lignin (ADF–ADL, r = 0.96), followed by PH and LL ( r = 0.90). CP was strongly negatively correlated with fiber fractions (NDF: r = −0.87; ADF: r = −0.61; ADL: r = −0.64; all p < 0.01), indicating higher protein levels coincide with lower fiber. For optimal hydroponic maize fodder production in Benishangul‐Gumuz, we recommend the BH‐546 variety. A twice per day irrigation frequency maximizes DMY per unit area. For fodder with higher CP and good morphology, a three‐times‐per‐day schedule with the same variety is preferable. The choice depends on the primary goal: IF2 for maximum DMY or IF3 for superior nutritional quality. Farmers should select the regime that best aligns with their livestock needs and water resource constraints.
Sheriff et al. (Thu,) studied this question.