Resumo

CALDERON-SANCHEZ, F et al. Nutrient concentration and yield of ten sorghum varieties (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) used for ruminant feeding. Universidad y ciencia [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.2, pp.169-177. ISSN 0186-2979.

An experiment was carried out to study the production and nutrient content of ten sorghum varieties grown in a humid warm region of the state of Puebla, Mexico. A randomised block design was used, 10 sorghum varieties were planted in 1.5 ha plots, and the concentration of starch, ruminal degradable starch, neutral detergent fiber (FDN), protein, ash and tannins were evaluated. The production of grains and nutrients per hectare was also estimated. Differences (p < 0.05) where found in the concentration of starch, degradable starch, FDN, ashes and tannins among the varieties. The ranges of nutrient concentration (%) varied from: 63.8 to 73.8 in starch (Mean 71.02, SEM 1.35), 41.8 to 52.4 in degradable starch (Mean 48.34, SEM 1.44), 9.15 to 22.4 in FDN (Mean 13.45, SEM 0.61), 1.18 to 1.84 in ashes (Mean 1.55, SEM 0.11), and from 1.25 to 4.95 in tannins (Mean 1.71, SEM 0.06). Protein content was not different (p > 0.05). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the yields (t ha^-1) of starch (range form 3.16 to 4.45) and degradable starch (range 2.12 to 2.98). Neither where there in the yields (kg ha^-1) of protein (range 297 to 517), ashes (range 57.5 to 107.5) and tannins (range 60 to 290). The yield of FDN (kg ha^-1) was different (range 440 to 1295). Despite there being differences in the concentration of nutrients among the varieties, the yield of nutrients per hectare was similar.

Palavras-chave : Starch; sorghum; digestibility; nutrients; sorghum varieties.