Biometric and chemical characteristics of sugarcane varieties for use as forage in limiting soil water conditions

Abstract

-This study aimed to evaluate the biometric and chemical characteristics of five sugarcane varieties (RB 863129, RB 867515, RB 92579, RB 943365, and RB 98710) grown in a semi-arid climate for use as forage. The experiment was designed as randomized blocks, in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement (five sugarcane varieties and two evaluation times, 407 and 483 days). Response variables included dry matter productivity, morphological characteristics, chemical composition, digestibility, and ratios among neutral detergent fiber (NDF), Brix, and Pol. For the biometric analyses, there was an interaction effect between the evaluated varieties and harvest times on the variables fresh matter yield, uncovered internodes, and stalk density (MID -middle internode density). Regarding stalk density (MID), at 407 days, there was no significant difference among the varieties (1.19 g cm −3). For the fractionated parts, there was an effect of harvest time on the amount of fresh matter and dry matter of tops produced, which was highest at 407 days of age. A significant difference was detected among the varieties for contents of dry matter and total digestible nutrients. The variable in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility was influenced by the time, decreasing by 53.62 g kg −1 at 483 days. In the analysis of Brix and Pol yields per hectare, it was observed that variables ton of Brix per hectare and ton of sucrose per hectare averaged 15.12 and 10.14 t ha −1 , respectively, and the NDF:Brix and NDF:Pol ratios were higher for variety RB 863129, with 2.93 and 3.68, respectively. Variety RB 867515 is suggested for forage production in semi-arid conditions, as it is best adapted to the local soil-climatic conditions and to the water deficit, especially at 407 days.

Nutritional Evaluation of Sugarcane Cultivars for Ruminants

“…this fibrous fraction is negatively correlated with the digestibility of the feed. The mean ADF value observed in this study (269.2 g kg -1 DM) were similar to those obtained by Bezerra et al (2017) who evaluated five RB cultivars with average of 263.4 g kg -1 DM.…”

“…Bezerra et al (2017) evaluated the fractionation of carbohydrates from five cultivars and the highest values for fraction A + B1 were obtained for cultivar RB86 7515, corroborating what was obtained in the present study.…”

“…The lowest IVDMD values occurred for RB72 454 and RB95 6911 due to the high concentration of fraction C of these cultivars and the low content of fraction A + B1, in the case of RB72 454. In the general average, the cultivars evaluated presented IVDMD above 650 g kg -1 DM, higher than those obtained by Bezerra et al (2017), Oliveira et al (2007), Silva et al (2008) and Schmidt et al (2007). Regarding IVNDFD, 19 cultivars showed higher values, but similar to each other, with an average of 466.0 g kg -1 DM.…”

Nutritional Requirement of Sugarcane Cultivars

“…Productivity of biomass of sugarcane varieties in three crop cyclesBezerra et al (2017) evaluated the yield of fresh matter of the varieties RB863129, RB943655 and RB98710 in the cane-plant cycle cultivated in the Brazilian semi-arid region, and accumulations ranged from 91 to 99 t ha -1 ,…”

Caña de azúcar y subproductos de la agroindustria azucarera en la alimentación de rumiantes

“…Dentro de los indicadores de crecimiento que se deben tener en cuenta están el área foliar, área foliar específica, peso foliar, tasa de crecimiento del cultivo, velocidad de producción de biomasa, duración del área foliar y duración de la biomasa; las características biométricas que se deben medir contemplan el número de tallos viables, número de tallos inviables, entrenudos totales, porcentaje de entrenudos descubiertos, diámetro del tallo y longitud del cogollo y, la valoración nutricional estará determinada por los contenidos de materia seca (MS), materia orgánica (MO), cenizas (CEN), proteína cruda (PC), fibra en detergente neutro (FDN), fibra en detergente ácido (FDA), nutrientes digestibles totales (NDT), y °Brix, Pol (contenidos de sacarosa). Adicionalmente se deben medir los indicadores de madurez, comportamiento reproductivo de los animales que la consumen y, finalmente, la rentabilidad y aplicabilidad en los sistemas ganaderos, con el fin de garantizar la mayor producción a mínimos costos (Aranda et al, 2004;Moreno, 2007;Aguirre et al 2010;Bastidas et al, 2010;Cordeiro et al, 2017;Fernández et al, 2018).…”