Influence of nitrogen fertilization on the energy value of sorghum grain in non-ruminants

Rumen Bazitov, Milena Mihaylova

Abstract: The aim of the study is to determine the effect of different rates of nitrogen fertilization on the chemical composition and energy value of sorghum grain in non-ruminants. The study was conducted in the experimental field of the Agricultural Institute – Stara Zagora on meadow - cinnamon soil with sorghum for grain medium late hybrid Maxired with a density of crops – 200000 plants per acre. The study includes the following four variants of fertilization: var.1 – non-fertilizer control, var. 2 – fertilization with N5 kg/da, var. 3 – fertilization with N10 kg/ da and var. 4 – fertilization with N 15 kg/da. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied during the vegetation of the crop in phase 3 - 5 leaves, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in doses P8 kg/da and K6 kg/da in the main tillage. With an increase in the fertilization rate, the content of crude protein in the corn grain increases, with the largest increase of 15.6% compared to the unfertilized control being the variant with the highest fertilizer rate – N15 kg/da – 110.7 g/kg DM, followed by the variant with N10 kg/da – 108.2 g/kg DM. The content of crude fiber in the grain of corn with increasing fertilization rate decreases by 0.8 - 2.6% compared to the unfertilized control, the least in the variant with norm – N5 kg/da active substance – 27.1 g/kg DM. The fertilization rate does not have a significant effect on the content of digestible and metabolic energy in the grain of sorghum in pigs and poultry reared under irrigated conditions.

Keywords: energy value; fertilization; poultry; sorghum; swine

Date published: 2021-12-08