Harvesting Regimes Affect Brown Midrib Sorghum-Sudangrass and Brown Midrib Pearl Millet Forage Production and Quality

Abstract

As water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer continue to decline in the Texas High Plains, alternative forage crops that utilize less water must be identified to meet the forage demand of the livestock industry in this region. A two-year (2016 and 2017) study was conducted at West Texas A&M University Nance Ranch near Canyon, TX to evaluate the forage production and quality of brown midrib (BMR) sorghum-sudangrass (SS) (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. Drummondii) and BMR pearl millet (PM) (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Leeke)) harvested under three regimes (three 30-d, two 45-d, and one 90-d harvests). Sorghum-sudangrass consistently out yielded PM in total DM production in both tested years (yield range 3.96 to 6.28 Mg DM ha−1 vs. 5.38 to 11.19 Mg DM ha−1 in 2016 and 6.00 to 9.87 Mg DM ha−1 vs. 6.53 to 15.51 Mg DM ha−1 in 2017). Water use efficiency was higher in PM compared to SS. The 90-d harvesting regime maximized the water use efficiency and DM production compared to other regimes in both crops; however, some forage quality may be sacrificed. In general, the higher forage quality was achieved in shorter interval harvesting regimes (frequent cuttings). The selection of suitable forage crop and harvesting regime based on this research can be extremely beneficial to the producers of Texas High Plains to meet their individual forage needs and demand.

Effect of deficit irrigation on physiology and forage yield of forage sorghum, pearl millet, and corn

“…However, the results for pearl millet yield in this study and those reported by Machicek et al. (2019) with 250 mm of irrigation were similar, which might be explained by similar irrigation amounts and research location.…”

“…Similarly, Xu, Marek, Bell, and Pietsch (2015) compared the silage yield of corn hybrids at 250 mm of irrigation. Machicek, Blaser, Darapuneni, and Rhoades (2019) compared the forage yield of BMR sorghum‐sudangrass and BMR pearl millet at 250 mm of irrigation and reported higher yield in BMR sorghum‐sudangrass. These studies have provided valuable information on the performance and yield potential of these crops in the THP.…”

Evaluation of eastern gamagrass and a sorghum × sudangrass for summer pasture

“…Annuals, such as sorghum × sudangrass (SXS), offer producers more flexibility and can produce forages with increased nutritive values compared with warm‐season perennials (Tracy et al., 2010). In the case of SXS, high forage yields, 7–10 Mg ha −1 , can be produced at a time of year when TF has become semi‐dormant and is not productive (Fontaneli, Sollenberger, & Staples, 2001; Machicek, Blaser, Darapuneni, & Rhoades, 2019). However, these summer annuals are less cost‐effective (Boyer et al., 2019; Keyser, Bates, Waller, Harper, & Holcomb, 2015; Tracy et al., 2010), may not be available in early summer (Tracy et al., 2010; Zechiel, 2017) and thus provide fewer grazing days (Zechiel, 2017) than perennials.…”

Sustainable Cropping Systems

“…The paper by Machicek et al [57] reports on forage yield and quality, and water use efficiency of irrigated brown midrib sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. Drummondii) and brown midrib pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Leeke)) under three, two, and one harvests on 30-, 45-, and 90-day intervals, respectively.…”