Effect of chicken manure on yield, quality and HCN concentration of two forage Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) cultivars

This paper had been presented for promotion at the university of Khartoum. To get the full text please contact the other at Abusuwar @ yahoo.comAn experiment was conducted for two successive years (2000-2001) in the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum in Shambat to investigate the response of two forage sorghum cultivars to different rates of chicken manure in two different seasons (summer and winter). The treatments consisted of four chicken manure levels (0, 2.5, 5.5 and 7.0 tons/ ha.), two cultivars of forage sorghum (Abu Sabein and Pioneer) and two sowing dates (winter and summer). Treatments were arranged in a split-split plot design with four replications. The parameters measured included fresh and dry matter yields and proximate analysis to determine the nutritive value and the HCN concentration of the forage. Results showed that chicken manure rates had a significant effect on yield and nutritive value of the forage produced during both seasons throughout the experimental period. The maximum forage fresh yield of 33.21 tons/ha was recorded for the highest rate of chicken manure applied (7.5 tons/ha) compared to 17.71 tons/ha for the control during the first year. On the other hand maximum dry forage yield of 16 tons/ha was recorded for the same treatment compared to 11.42 tons/ha for the control during the same period. In both years no significant effects of cultivars on forage yield, except for dry matter production in the second year. Summer sowing significantly outyieded winter sowing throughout the experimental period. Chicken manure application significantly improved forage quality in terms of crude protein and crude fiber, with highest protein and lowest fiber recorded for the highest dose of chicken manure applied compared to the control. Summer planting resulted in a significantly higher P and Ca compared to winter planting. Pioneer significantly exceeded Abu Sabein in Mg content through out the experimental period. Prussic acid contents were significantly increased by chicken manure treatment. Abu Sabein (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) had greater contents of prussic acid than Pioneer cultivar and all prussic acid content of Pioneer cultivar did not reach the toxic level (>204 ppm) during the two seasons