Effects of Mixed Application of Chemical Fertilizer and Liquid Swine Manure on Agronomic Characteristics, Yield and Feed Value of Sorghum × Sudangrass Hybrid for Silage in Paddy Field Cultivation

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of the mixed application of chemical fertilizer (CF) and liquid swine manure (LSM) on the agronomic characteristics, dry matter yield, amino acids, minerals, and free sugars in cultivating Sorghum x Sudangrass hybrid (SSH) on paddy soil. The field experiment was designed in a randomized block design with three replications and consisted of CF 100% (C), CF 70% + LSM 30% (T1), CF 50% + LSM 50% (T2), CF 30% + LSM 70% (T3), and LSM 100% treatment (T4). The application of LSM was based solely on the nitrogen. Plant length, leaf length, leaf width and number of leaf were significantly higher in T4 (p<0.05), but stem diameter did not show significant differences among treatments. Stem hardness increased significantly (p<0.05) as the LSM application rate decreased, but sugar degree decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the LSM application rate decreased. Fresh yield, dry matter yield and TDN yield were the highest in T4, whereas the lowest in T2 (p<0.05). Crude protein, crude fat and crude ash were the highest in C, T4 and T2, respectively (p<0.05). However, NDF and ADF did not show significant difference among treatments. Crude fiber decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the LSM application rate increased. The total mineral content was decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the LSM application rate increased. Total amino acid content was higher in the order of T1> C> T3> T4> T2 (p<0.05). Free sugar content increased significantly (p<0.05) as the LSM application rate increased. The analysis of all the above results suggests that the application of liquid swine manure is very effective, considering the yield performance and the content of sugar degree and free sugar. In addition, liquid swine manure may be possible to grow Sorghum × Sudangrass hybrid without chemical fertilizer.