The production and quality of different fodder sorghum and Babala cultivars in the western Transvaal.

Abstract

A number of sorghum cultivars are available commercially, and periodically some cultivars are added while others are withdrawn from the market. The potential yield figures and the nutritive value of these sorghums are generally not known. Owing to erratic availability of seed, only seven cultivars could be established for three consecutive years, while eleven were included in the experiment for at least one year. Babala (SA common) was used as a control, while one imported Babala cultivar (Hypearl) was evaluated for one year. Yields varied so much over the experimental period that no cultivar could be singled out as the highest yielder. Of the seven cultivars grown for three years, the dry matter (CDM) yields were ranked in the following order of magnitude: PNR 989, Domor, Babala (SA common), Supergraze, Gotcha, Mixed sorghum and PNR 841. In terms of leaf production, the highest to the lowest yielding cultivars were the following: Babala (SA common), PNR 841, Mixed sorghum, Supergraze, PNR 989, Gotcha and Domor. In vitro dry matter digestibility and crude protein content showed little variation between cultivars

Keywords: afrikaans; babala; crude protein; crude protein content; cultivars; digestibility; dry matter digestibility; fodder; leaves; pennisetum americanum; potchefstroom district; production; protein; quality; seed; sorghum; south africa; western transvaal; yield