Millet forage yield and silage quality as affected by water and nitrogen application at different sowing dates

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of two irrigation regimes (control and water stress) and two nitrogen (N) levels (0 and 112.5 kg/ha) on forage yield and silage quality in millet. Bastan (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv) and Pishahang (Panicum miliaceum) were sown at two different dates during 2015 and 2016. Both cultivars exhibited reduced dry‐matter (DM) yields (45% and 51% in Bastan and Pishahang respectively) due to drought stress. Proline and phenolic contents increased as a result of drought and were significantly and negatively correlated with DM yield and digestibility. Moreover, Pishahang had a reduced acid detergent fibre (ADF) content but improved leaf/stem ratio, digestible dry matter (DDM), relative feed value (RFV), net energy for lactation (NEL), digestibility and silage quality as a result of drought stress, while no significant effects on these traits were observed in Bastan. Silage quality was greatly cultivar‐dependent. Both cultivars had higher levels of DDM, RFV and NEL at early sowing dates. Nitrogen supply had greater positive effects on increasing ash, crude protein (CP) content and DM yield under normal irrigation than under water‐stress conditions. In summary, given the importance of the energy received per unit of forage from an animal husbandry viewpoint and the significance of DM yield per unit area from an agricultural viewpoint, the obtained results might help farmers in choosing not only the best sowing dates but also proper irrigation and N management practices to achieve their quantitative and qualitative objectives in forage production.

Biomass production, water use efficiency and nutritional value parameters of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) genotypes as affected by seed hydro-priming and transplanting

“…Bhattarai et al (2017) and Hassan et al (2020) recognized the effect of soil and air temperature as the determinative factors in germination and yield production in forage sorghum cultivation. Hence Nematpour et al (2020) reported the positive correlation between ADF and DMY, and probably hereupon, in D1 PD , the ambiance condition for growth and development was more desirable, these results recorded. Hassan et al (2019) reported asynchronous growth season and plant development phases would reduce the potential for DMY production.…”

“…Probably hence in D1 PD , the ambient factors like minimum air temperature and the mean soil temperature stimulated the effect of long days on photosynthesis, subsequently, the level of WSC was higher than other PDs. Nematpour et al (2020) reported forages that planted at the later dates produced higher net energy content for lactation.…”

“…Biomass yield production is the core objective in forage cultivation practices (Nematpour et al 2020). In addition to the GLM and regression analysis, Figure 2 also exhibits the trend of DMY production influenced by variation in PD.…”

“…Probably because of the desirable ambient condition in D4 PD for forage production with less indigestible content like lignin was the main reason for forage production with most DDM, OMD, ME content, and RFV (Kaplan et al 2019;Hassan et al 2019). Nematpour et al (2020) reported a positive correlation between NDF and ADF with growth rate; since D PM caused the growth rate with a blunter angle (Fig. 2) than H PM and T PM , thus, highest content of DDM, DOM, ME content, and RFV generated by D PM .…”

The use of alternative irrigation and cropping systems in forage production may alleviate the water scarcity in semi‐arid regions

“…2,4 Ahrar et al 16 reported that drought stress reduced amaranth forage yield but increased its protein content. Nematpour et al 25 also reported that reduced irrigation water improved some of the forage quality components of millet, including leaf/stem ratio, digestible dry matter (DDM), relative feed value (RFV), and net energy for lactation (NEL).…”