Abstract
Recently it has emerged a technique for silage production of intercropping systems of annual crop with forage through crop-livestock integration, aiming to reduce the deficit forage in the offseason. The study was conducted to evaluate the fermentation characteristics and nutritional value of silage of sorghum and Urochloa brizantha cultivars monocropped or intercropped in different planting systems. The experiment was a randomized block design, with three replications, in a 3x2+4 factorial arrangement, with three cultivars of Urochloa brizantha (Marandu; Xaraes and Piata) intercropped with grain sorghum in two planting systems (row and between rows) and four monocrops (Sorghum, Marandu palisadegrass, Xaraes palisadegrass and Piata palisadegrass). The planting system of intercropping systems did not interfere with fermentation characteristics and chemical composition of silages. The same was found for Urochloa cultivars. Silages from intercropping sorghum with Urochloa brizantha cultivars had lower pH values, buffering capacity, acetic and butyric acids and higher values of lactic acid, besides showed superior quality, as for the parameters dry matter, ether extract and total digestible nutrient than silages from grasses produced in monocropping system. Therefore, silages of intercropping systems ensure fermentation and nutritional quality, providing interesting supplementary bulky options to be used in the offseason for feeding animals.
Highlights
The seasonal production of forage plants, caused by low temperatures combined with insufficient humidity and light in part of the year, requires planning and implementing practices aimed at conservation of forage for the offseason
This study evaluated the fermentation characteristics and quality of silage of sorghum and Urochloa brizantha cultivars monocropped or intercropped in different planting systems, in the offseason
It is noteworthy that the silages in intercropping systems produced about three times more lactic acid when compared to silages of Urochloa brizantha cultivars in monocrop. These results demonstrate the relevance of intercropping sorghum with Urochloa brizantha cultivars in the production of lactic acid, which plays a key role in the conservation of forage, for presenting a higher dissociation constant, being responsible for the pH drop to values below 4.2 (Moisio & Heikonem, 1994)
Summary
The seasonal production of forage plants, caused by low temperatures combined with insufficient humidity and light in part of the year, requires planning and implementing practices aimed at conservation of forage for the offseason. Niaz, Zulkiffal, & Ali, 2009), in addition to succulent stems with high content of fermentable sugars along with high nutritional value (Almodares & Hadi, 2009). Another option widely used as roughage is the silage produced from tropical forages, which has stood out because of the higher productivity under adverse conditions, in addition to be already planted in many properties, lowering the cost when compared to silage of conventional species, such as corn and sorghum (Chizzotti et al, 2005). Losses when ensiling tropical grasses are frequent, which suggests the use of technologies aimed at reducing these losses
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