The effect of cutting regime on yield of sorghum in different climatic (vegetation) seasons

• Main Authors: Darko Uher, Zvonimir Štafa, Dubravko Maćešić, Dražen Kaučić, Zoran Vukašinović
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Dairy Union 2005-01-01
• Series: Mljekarstvo
• Subjects: forage sorghum; cutting time; green mass yield; dry matter yield; climatic conditions
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=3955

Forage could be produced on natural grasslands, leys or arable land, but in lowland and in dry areas short season forage crops should be interpolated due to instability of yields from grasslands. Using that pattern, it is possible to better utilize the potential of arable land and the energy of the sun instead of leaving the fields empty (3-8 months), and to produce high yield of quality forage. Sorghum hybrids fit well in that system of forage production on family farms. It could be sown after harvesting of winter and early sown spring crops, and utilized in few cuts during a second part of summer, until the beginning of autumn and appearance of the first frost. Furthermore, it could ensure good yields of quality green forage and the rest quantity could be ensilaged. In that way higher yields of quality forage per hectare could be provided during vegetation season. The experiment was conducted at Maksimir experimental field, Faculty of Agriculture University of Zagreb. The aim of this research was to determine green mass yield (GMY) and dry matter yield (DMY) of sorghum (cv. Grazer N), at different cutting regime in two various seasons (dry and wet summer). The highest GMY and DMY were obtained when sorghum was cut 2 times at 200 cm height in 2002 and 2003 experimental years. Climatic conditions were better in the year 2002, so in that year GMY varied from 85.2 to 100.7 t/ha, while DMY varied from 18.7 to 31.0 t/ha. In the experimental year 2003 GMY varied from 58.6 to 86.6 t/ha, while DMY varied from 14.6 to 26.6 t/ha. Even in such unfavorable year, as 2003 was, sorghum (cv. Grazer N) expressed its great potential for continuing utilization in summer and early autumn.