Abstract

NUNEZ HERNANDEZ, Gregorio et al. Forage quality and agronomic characterization of annual forage species in North-Central Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2010, vol.1, n.2, pp.85-98. ISSN 2448-6698.

The objective of this study was to generate knowledge on agronomic and nutritive characteristics of corn, sorghum and winter cereals forage varieties in North-Central Mexico. Three experiments were performed for evaluating: 1) Twenty four (24) corn hybrids planted at 106,000 plants ha^-1, fertilized at a 200-80-00 N-P-K rate, and harvested at 1/3 of milk line in grain, 2) Nineteen (19) forage, grain, and brown midrib sorghum varieties seeded at 12 kg ha^-1 of commercial seed, fertilized at a 200-60-00 N-P-K rate and harvested at milk grain stage, and 3) Twelve (12) winter cereal varieties seeded at 150 kg ha^-1 of commercial seed, fertilized at a 180-80-00 N-P-K rate and harvested at grain dough stage. All three experiments were carried out in a complete randomized block design with four replicates. Variables were: dry matter yield per hectare (DMY), ear percentage (EAR) or panicle percentage (PAN), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD), lignin (Lig) and net energy for lactation (NEl). Statistical analyses included variance, descriptive statistics and simple correlation. Corn DMY average and standard deviation were 8.48±2.12 tm ha^-1, DMD 71.50±2.18 % and NEl 1.52±0.5 Mcal kg^-1 DM. NEl was correlated with ear percentage (r=0.60**), NDF concentration (r=-0.64**) and NDFD (r=0.92**). Sorghum average and standard deviation were DMY 18.43±2.19 t/ha, DMD 64.90±4.07 %) NEl 1.35±.10 Mcal kg^-1 DM and DNDF 44.89±8.63. NEL was correlated with NDFD (r=0.84**). Winter cereal yield was 12.33±1.18 tm ha^-1, DMD 71.30±1.99 % and NEl 1.50±0.04 Mcal kg^-1 DM. NEl was correlated with DNFD (r=0.84).

Keywords : Corn; Sorghum; Small grain cereals; Varieties; Milk production.

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