SOLAR RADIATION USE EFFICIENCY AND GROSS PROTEIN OF SORGHUM FORAGE ARE MODIFIED BY THE CUTTING MANAGEMENT

Julia Renata Schneider,Thaise Dieminger Engroff,Felipe Schwerz,Elvis Felipe Elli,Braulio Otomar Caron

doi:10.1590/1809-6891v20e-46662

Julia Renata Schneider, Thaise Dieminger Engroff + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-6891v20e-46662

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Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the growth, the solar radiation use efficiency, and the gross protein of sorghum forage under different cutting management. A unifactorial design in random blocks (cutting management) was used, varying from no-cut treatment to four cuts. The first cut occurred 44 days after sowing, the second one after 23 days of regrowth, the third one after 25 days of regrowth, and the last one after 40 days of regrowth. The efficiency of the sorghum forage's solar radiation use reduces as the number of cuts increases. The sorghum forage's gross protein increases with cutting management. Therefore, for a sorghum forage crop, it is recommended to restrain the cutting management up to three times during the crop cycle, since it has the biomass potential production, and the cuts should be made at every 25 days, depending on the increase of dry mass. After that, the cutting management should not be done, mainly due to the low radiation use efficiency, reduced dry mass accumulation, and low material quality.

Highlights

Sorghum forage (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an energy grass of high digestibility, production, and adaptation to different soil conditions and abiotic stresses[1]
For a sorghum forage crop, it is recommended to restrain the cutting management up to three times during the crop cycle, since it has the biomass potential production, and the cuts should be made at every 25 days, depending on the increase of dry mass
The intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), which is transformed into dry mass, shows how efficient the species is regarding the use of radiation[3]

Summary

Introduction

Sorghum forage (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an energy grass of high digestibility, production, and adaptation to different soil conditions and abiotic stresses[1]. This culture can be used for silage or for direct grazing because it presents high photosynthetic rates, high dry mass production, and high survival percentage[2]. The pasture production capacity depends on the weather conditions in which the plants grow, from which solar radiation is the most important element, especially since it is related to the management practices employed (for example, plant cut and regrowth). Such management will define the forage’s quality[4]

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