The Effect of Cutting Age and Ratooning on Growth, Production, and Nutrient Content of Brown Midrib Resistance Sorghum

Abstract

This research aimed to determine the effect of cutting age and ratooning on growth, production, and nutrient content of the Brown Midrib Resistance (BMR) sorghum. This research used a split-plot design with the main plot was ratoon (ratoon 1 and 2), and the subplot was the cutting age (6 and 8 weeks). Each treatment was replicated three times. Sorghum was planted with planting space 75 × 25 cm. The variables observed were growth (plant height, plant length, and leaf width), production (dry matter and organic matter), nutrient content (dry matter content, organic matter, crude protein, extract ether, crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, and calculation of the total digestible nutrient). The result showed that the ratooning treatment significantly affected (P<0.05) the plant height, plant length, leaf width, dry matter production, organic matter production, and crude fiber content. Dry matter production from ratoon 1 was higher than ratoon 2. The cutting age significantly affected (P<0.05) on plant height, plant length, leaf width, extract ether, crude fiber, crude protein, and total digestible nutrient. Crude protein content at the 6-week cutting age was higher (P <0.05) than the 8-week cutting age. Based on the research, it can be concluded that the growth and production of sorghum will decrease during the second ratoon. The older the plants, the growth, and crude fiber content increased, but the crude protein and total digestible nutrient decreased.