Comparison of the feeding values of brewing-forage sorghum and grain-forage maize

To compare the feeding values of brewing-forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and rain-forage maize (Zea mays) under different planting methods, we studied brewing-forage sorghum planted in an open field and grain-forage maize planted by whole field surface plastic mulching and double ridge-furrowing in Longdong dryland. A feed material yield comparison test and an economic benefit analysis of the two crops were carried out. Additionally, the nutritional composition, feeding value, and net energy were analyzed both at the milk stage of the whole plant and in mature straw. The results showed that the economic benefit of planting brewing-forage sorghum in an open field is higher than that of grain-forage maize planted by whole field surface plastic mulching and double ridge-furrowing. Most indicators of nutritional composition, feed quality, and net energy of brewing-forage sorghum were significantly lower than those of grain-forage maize at the milk stage (P < 0.05). At the mature stage, the opposite results were observed, but the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). The crude protein yield, total digestible nutrients, and dry matter milk net value of brewing-forage sorghum per hectare were higher than those of grain-forage maize, showing extremely significant differences (P < 0.01). The economic benefit and feeding value of brewing-forage sorghum straw planted in an open field were better than those of whole film grain-forage maize at the mature stage. Thus, brewing-forage sorghum should be planted in an open field rather than under whole film double furrow sowing that is used for grain-forage maize in the northwest dry farming area of China.