PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GRAIN SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor L.) SILAGE AS INFLUENCED BY VARIETY AND PLANTING DATE

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of two grain sorghum varieties as influenced by planting date in Shika-Zaria. A laboratory trial of representative samples of silages using the two varieties (Samsorg-16 and Samsorg-17) and three planting dates (15th June, 30th June and 14th July) in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement denoted as A, B, C, D, E and F was made in glass jars from chopped forage material harvested at booting stage. The forage was ensiled for 21 days in glass jar. There was no significant (P>0.05) effect of variety on temperature and pH of ensiled grain sorghum (Table 1). The temperature for both varieties was 22.93oC while pH observed ranged between 3.82 and 3.83 for Samsorg-16 and Samsorg-17 varieties, respectively. Variety had effect on dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, calcium and phosphorus composition of ensiled grain sorghum. Planting date had significant (P<0.05) effect on all the parameters measured in which silage made from sorghum planted on 15th June recorded higher temperature, dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. It is therefore recommended that for good quality silage, Samsorg-17 variety should be planted on 15th June.