The experiment was conducted with the purpose to evaluate the qualitative traits of the plant components and fermentation characteristics of silages from different sorghum hybrids AGX-213, AG-2002 (forage) and AGX-217, AG-2005E (double purpose). The panicle component showed higher percentages of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), mineral material (MM) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and lower percentages of plant cell wall than the stems and leaves. No differences were observed among the sorghum silages for MM and IVDMD percentages. The AG-2005E silage showed higher contents of DM (35.5%), CP (6.69%), ether extract (2.28%) and nitrogen-free extract (58.56%) in comparison with the other genotypes. No difference was observed among the sorghum silages for acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) content. The silages of the forage hybrids (AGX-213 and AG-2002) showed lower pH and N-NH3 (% of total N) in comparison with the double purpose (AGX-217 and AG-2005E) hybrids.
double purpose sorghum; forage sorghum; leaves; panicle; silage; stem
