The effects of sowing methods on growth components, yield chemical composition and silage quality of sunflower forage
Abstract
The aim of this experiment was to determine the chemical composition of sunflower forage at different ages of harvest under three sowing methods. The experiment was set up in a 3x3 factorial arrangement and laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 12 plots, each measuring 3x3 m. The treatments were sowing method (dibbling, drilling, and broadcasting) and cutting age (2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after sowing (WAS)). Each treatment was replicated four times, and data were collected at 6, 8, and 10 weeks after sowing to analyze dry matter, moisture content, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, ash content, nitrogen-free extract, neutral detergent fiber, and anti-nutrients such as tannin, oxalate, and phytate. Furthermore, four different treatments were ensiled using the following proportions: T1 = 95% sunflower forage + 0 Napier grass + 5% molasses; T2 = 80% sunflower forage +15% Napier grass + 5% molasses; T3 = 60% sunflower + 35% Napier grass + 5% molasses; T4 = 40% sunflower + 55% Napier grass + 5% molasses. The silage was left un-opened for 21 days to ferment. The chemical composition of these treatments was also analyzed. The results indicated that chemical composition of sunflower forage for C.P(9.53%), C.F(15.58%), and Ash (1.39%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for sunflower planted in drilling method and harvested 10 weeks after sowing, NDF (18.35%) and ADF (13.97%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in dibbling at 6 weeks after sowing. NFE (77.88%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in broadcasting also at 6 weeks after sowing, while DM, MC and EE were not significantly (P<0.05) affected by sowing method. The results showed that anti-nutritional composition of sunflower was significantly (P<0.05) affected by sowing method. Tannin (2.69%) and Oxalate (0.33%) were significantly (P<0.05) lower in broadcasting while Phytate (1.56%) was least in dibbling. The results of growth components showed that plant height (81.44 cm), leaf length (13.59 cm), leaf width (10.33 cm) and leaf number (32.36) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in broadcasting, while number of tillers was not significantly affected (P<0.05) by sowing method. Varying sowing methods significantly (P<0.05) affected fresh and dry forage yield of sunflower with the highest values (23320.30kg/ha and 5677.67kg/ha) recorded for drilling method. This study provides valuable insights into the chemical composition of sunflower forage under different sowing methods and at various cutting ages. These findings could have practical implications for improving forage quality and yield in livestock production.
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References
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