Effect of maturity at harvest on yield and composition of hybrid grain and forage sorghum silages

Abstract

Results from two trials indicate that grain sorghums can produce high, whole-crop dry matter yields in a short time. Although grain sorghum whole-crop silage may yield less tonnage than forage sorghum, its higher crude protein and grain-to-forage ratio could more than compensate for the difference. Maximum yields, both whole-crop and grain, were obtained at late-dough maturity in both years. However, since high quality silages were made at each harvest stage, grain sorghums had a relatively long harvest season. Grain sorghums had a dry matter content suitable for ensiling over the range of maturities studied. In addition, their yield and nutrient content reached a plateau at the late-dough and hard-grain stages.