Effect of Cutting Stages and Sowing Dates on Forage Yield and Quality of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the city center of Ramadi during spring 2017 in field fallow one of farmer , to study the effect of cutting stage and sowing dates on forage yield and quality of sorghum . The experiment was using R.C.B.D with three replications in a split plot arrangement sowing data (20 march , 5 and 20 April) were taken a main plot, while cutting stages ( vegetative , 50% flowering, and dough stage for seeds) were stages taken as the sub plot design , Results showed that the sowing date of 5 April gave a higher plant height (181.9 cm ), green forage yield (42.8 ton.he-1), dry matter (11.8 ton.he-1) , yield of protein (1.5 ton. he -1), yield of fiber (5.9 ton. he-1), protein percentage (12.38 %). While the cutting at dough stage gave higher of each of plant high(204.6 cm) , yield green forage (38.20 ton.he-1) , dry matter (12.6 ton.he-1) , yield of protein (1.30 ton. he -1) , yield fiber percentage (6.10 ton. he -1) , fiber percentage (53.6 %).