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Published online 1 November 1968
Published in Agron J 60:669-672 (1968)
© 1968 American Society of Agronomy
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
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Comparison of Growth Stages of Sorghum Forage Types as to Yield and Chemical Composition

George F. Worker, Jr. and Vern L. Marble2

A 2-year study of harvesting three types of forage sorghum — sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, and sorgo — at pasture, boot, flower, and soft-dough stages was undertaken to evaluate dry-matter production, chemical composition, and digestibility predicted from chemical analyses.

Dry-matter yields generally increased in all types as harvest was delayed, with sorgo making the largest increase at the soft-dough stage.

Percent ash, crude protein, and fat decreased as harvest was delayed with little difference occurring between forage types. All cultivars declined in fiber when harvested after the flower stage. Total sugar percent increased as harvest was delayed for all forage types.

Sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass TDN percent was lowest when cut at flower stage of maturity, whereas the sorgo steadily increased from the earliest harvest to the latest.

Forage quality, except for crude protein which decreased sharply as harvest was delayed, was approximately equal for all forage types. Dry-matter production varied considerably by forage types and stage of harvest indicating the utilization of sudangrass for pasture or green chop; sorghum-sudangrass hybrid for pasture, green chop, or silage; and sorgo for silage.

Key Words: Sudangrass • sorgo • sorghum-sundangrass • cutting stage • ash • crude protein • fat • crude fiber • total sugars • TDN

2 Specialist in Agronomy, Imperial Valley Field Station, University of California, E1 Centro 92243; and Agriculturist, Agricultural Extension Service, University of California at Davis, respectively.

Received for publication April 22, 1968.




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Copyright © 1968 by the American Society of Agronomy.