Productivity, Fermentation Parameters, and Chemical Composition of Silages from Biomass Sorghum Hybrids in Ratoon Crop

Abstract

Biomass sorghum stands out for its high dry matter yield and ratooning ability, enabling additional harvests and silage production. This study evaluated the productive potential and fermentation quality of silages from ratoon biomass sorghum hybrids. A 5 × 2 factorial randomized block design was used, with five hybrids (CMSXS5039, CMSXS5044, CMSXS7102, CMSXS7103, and BRS 716) grown in two municipalities of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (Dourados and Jateí). Dry matter production (DMP) did not differ (p > 0.05) among the hybrids within each municipality; however, overall yield was higher in Jateí, averaging 12 t DM/ha. In Dourados, CMSXS5039 and CMSXS5044 showed the highest lactic acid concentrations (46.71 and 59.73 g/kg DM), whereas in Jateí, CMSXS7102, CMSXS7103, and BRS 716 stood out (45.70, 44.78, and 40.77 g/kg DM, respectively), among the sites, Jateí had the greater lactic acid production (49.95 g/kg DM). Aerobic stability (AS) averaged 28.5 h, with higher values in Dourados (p < 0.05), about 16 h longer than in Jateí. BRS 716 and CMSXS5044 presented the highest crude protein contents (115.17 and 118.33 g/kg DM). CMSXS5039 grown in Jateí had the lowest neutral detergent fiber and the highest starch and non-fiber carbohydrate values. Biomass sorghum hybrids exhibited good yield potential and good silage quality even under low rainfall conditions, with CMSXS5039 best suited for more energetic diets and BRS 716 and CMSXS5044 for more proteic diets.