Evaluation of nutrient solution dose and harvest time on forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in hydroponic fodder system

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effects of adding nutrient solutions and different harvest ages to the productivity and quality of sorghum forage hydroponically. The study was conducted experimentally using a 3x3 factorial randomized block design with 5 groups. Factor A dose of commercial nutrient solution (0, 3, and 5 ml/l). Factor B is the age of harvest (7, 10, and 13 days). The observed variables were plant productivity, nutrient, fiber fraction, and Hydrogen cianide (HCN) content. The results showed that there was a very significant interaction (P<0.01) between the nutrient solution factor and the age of harvest on the content of dry matter (DM), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), ash, and nitrogen free extract (NFE), while the single factor of harvest age had a very significant effect (P<0.01) reducing the content of DM, CP, EE, and NFE. There was no interaction between the addition of nutrient solution and age of harvest to the content of fiber fractions. A single factor in nutrient solution significantly increased (P<0.01) content of acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), cellulose, and lignin, but not hemicellulose. The conclusion is the addition of a nutrient solution to increase growth and fresh production, the content of CF, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, lignin and HCN, but a decrease in the content of DM, CP, EE, and NFE. The longer the harvest age will increase growth and fresh production, the content of CF, ash, ADF, cellulose, lignin and HCN, but reduce DM, CP, EE, and NFE.