Yield, Nutritional and Chemical Properties of Some Sorghum x Sudan Grass Hybrids (Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench x Sorghum sudanense Stapf.)

Abstract

The aim of study was to compare the yield, nutritional and chemical properties of eight sorghum x sudan grass hybrid cultivars in Samsun, Turkey ecological conditions in 2007. While, late-maturing cultivars (Jumbo, Sweet Jumbo, Pacific-8386) were harvested once, early-maturing cultivars (Sugar Graze, Pacific Bmr, Chopper, Grazer N2 and Hayday) twice in the research. In terms of the highest and the lowest values, the total fresh herbage and hay yields of Jumbo (97408 kg ha(-1)) and Pacific-8386 (23608 kg ha(-1)) cultivars, respectively were higher than those of Chopper (50041 and 12871 kg ha(-1), respectively). Grazer N2 (2062 kg ha(-1)) and Pacific 8386 (1753 kg ha') cultivars had higher total crude protein and ash yields compared to Chopper (1007 and 936 kg ha', respectively). However, the relative feed value of Chopper (81.53) was higher than those of Jumbo (63.78) at the first harvest due to Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) ratios. The ADF and NDF ratios were 48.32 vs. 40.24% and 66.04 vs. 74.89% at first harvest. The Ca/P and K/(Ca+Mg) ratios of studied cultivars changed from 1.43-3.19 and from 1.77-2.64, respectively. The cultivars of Grazer N2, Sweet Jumbo, Pacific-8386 and Pacific Bmr had higher yield and quality values than others based on data of 1 year.