Resumo

NAVA BERUMEN, Cynthia Adriana et al. Yield and nutritional value of three sweet sorghum varieties grown at four environments in Durango. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.2, pp.147-155. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v8i2.4426.

Sweet sorghum is a high-yielding biomass crop used as fodder for ruminant feed. The aim was to evaluate forage yield and quality in three sorghum cultivars grown in Durango. In 2014, three sorghum cultivars (Lico, TOM 3 and Mercedes) were sown in Colonia Hidalgo (CH), Valle del Guadiana Experiment Station (CEVAG), La Soledad (LS) and La Goma (LG). A completely randomized experimental design, with a factorial arrangement and five replications, was used. Data were taken for green (GF) and dry (DF) forage yield, crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter true digestibility (IVTD), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin (L), cellulose (CEL), hemicellulose (HE), relative forage value (RFV) and relative forage quality (RFQ). Significant differences (P≤0.01 and 0.05) among environments and cultivars were detected for GF, DF, L, RFV and RFQ and among environments for CP, NDF, ADF, CEL, HE and IVTD. The highest yield value for GF (75.9 t ha-1) and DF (12.4 t ha-1) were observed in CEVAG. Crude protein registered the highest value in LG (10 %); while IVTD showed the highest value in LS (78.2 %) and the lowest in LG (63.9 %). Lignin content was higher in CH (6.3 %) and LG (6.2 %); while in LS was 3.4 %. High quality fodder was obtained according to RFQ (106.7 to 135.0 %), except in LG. Sweet sorghum is an option as forage crop in Durango, however late plantings, early cutting dates (boot), insect control, irrigation and fertilizer application are recommended in order to increase its yield and nutritional quality.

Palavras-chave : Sorghum bicolor; Chemical composition; Digestibility; Nutritional value.