Evaluation of Silage Quality of Forage Maize (Zea mays L.) and Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Varieties at Different Phenophases

Aim: To evaluate the green fodder production potential of forage maize and sweet sorghum varieties at different phenophases.

Experiment Design: Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD).

Place and Duration of Study: AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization, Agricultural Research Institute. Duration from July 2022 to Nov 2022.

Methodology: Field experiment was conducted at AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization, Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during kharif 2022. The treatments consisted of four maize varieties (African tall, J –1006, TSFM 15-5 and DHM-117) and two sweet sorghum varieties (CSH-22SS and CSV-49SS) and three harvest stages (S1: Milky stage, S2: Soft dough stage and S3: Dent stage) laid out in randomized block design with factorial concept with two factors. Factor (A) as six varieties and factor (B) as three harvest stages (phenophases) with three replications. Texture of the soil was sandy loam with the pH of 7.0, low in available nitrogen (199.3 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorous (39.12 kg ha-1) and potassium (195.30 kg ha-1).

Results: Fodder maize variety African tall recorded significantly higher plant height (265.8 cm) at dent stage, leaf-stem ratio (0.36) at milky stage, green fodder yield (438 q ha-1) at soft dough stage and dry fodder yield (122.7 q ha-1) at dent stage of harvest. while J-1006 recorded significantly highest dry matter content (29.8%) at the dent stage of harvest. CSH 22SS recorded significantly higher crude protein content (10%) in the milky stage.

Conclusion: African tall variety has recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (438 q ha-1) at soft dough stage and dry fodder yield at the dent stage (122.7 q ha-1).