Abstract

BOLANOS-AGUILAR, Eduardo Daniel  and  CLAUDE EMILE, Jean. Effect of row spacing and sowing density on sorghum forage yield and quality. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2013, vol.4, n.2, pp.161-176. ISSN 2448-6698.

Sorghum dry matter yield (DMY) and forage quality were evaluated at two row spacings (75 and 20 cm) and two sowing densities (33 and 65 seeds m^-2), with harvest at a 300 g kg^-1 whole plant dry matter concentration. Trials covered three consecutive growing seasons (2007, 2008 and 2009) with progressively lower annual rainfall. The year x row spacing interaction had no effect on traits, except for plant height. Year did affect the traits, except for whole plant dry matter concentration (322 g kg^-1) and protein content (97.6 g kg^-1). Annual DMY ranged from 10 t (2007) to 17 t ha^-1 (2009), and 10 t (75 cm row spacing) to 16.6 t ha^-1 (20 cm). In 2007, panicle dry weight was 109.4 g kg^-1 higher than in 2008 and 158.1 g kg^-1 higher compared to 2009. Thousand-grain weight was 13.66 g kg^-1 higher in 2007 than the average of the two following years. Compared to 2009, digestibility was 89.5 g kg^-1 lower in 2007 and 39.9 g kg^-1 lower in 2008. There was correlation between digestibility and ash content (-0.94**), acid detergent fiber (-0.93**) and acid detergent lignin (-0.85*). Protein concentration was 15.2 g kg^-1 higher at the 20 cm spacing than at the 75 cm. No year x sowing density interaction was present, and sowing density did not affect DMY or forage quality. Sorghum DMY and forage quality were improved using a 33 seeds m² sowing density and 20 cm row spacing.

Keywords : Sorghum; Forage quality; Dry matter; Row spacing; Sowing density.

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