Effects of seeding rate and time of cut on the yield and quality of sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf.)

Abstract

In the years 1996 and 1997 the effects of two seeding rates (25 and 55 kg ha-1) and stage of growth (harvest at stem elongation stage at the heights of 50 cm, 100 cm, 150 cm, and harvest at early heading) on the yield of sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf., cultivar Srem) were investigated in field experiment on brown soil near Maribor. The lowest annual dry matter (DM) yield, i. e. 3.31 t ha-1 was obtained in 1996 at seeding rate of 25 kg ha-1 and harvest of 50 cm high plants (3 cuts), whereas the highest DM yield, i. e.16.23 t ha-1 was achieved in 1997 at seeding rate of 55 kg ha-1 and harvest at early heading (2 cuts). The higher seeding rate and delayed harvest resulted in the decrease of the crude protein content in DM. 'In vitro' digestibility of organic matter was higher than 60% only at harvest of plants at 50 cm height.

Keywords

• crude protein
• digestibility
• cutting frequency
• seeding rate
• sudangrass
• yield