Agronomic performance and nutritional quality of 8 forage sweet sorghum varieties

The morphological characteristics, grass yield, and nutritional value of eight forage sweet sorghum varieties (‘Jackpot 505’, ‘Jackpot 1000’, ‘Jackpot 1180’, ‘Jackpot 1230’, ‘Baizhan’, ‘Monste’, ‘Big kahuna’, and ‘Biaogan’) grown in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the height and blade and leaf width of the ‘Big kahuna’ plants were high, the regeneration ability of the second plant was strong, and the hay yield was the highest (53.32 t·ha⁻¹), but the number of leaves was smaller and the crude protein content was lower (8.14%) than other plants; ‘Jackpot 1180’ plants were high, the stems were thick, the leaves were abundant, and the values for leaf morphological characteristics were high; the hay yield was 42.43 t·ha⁻¹, and the crude protein content was 8.05%; ‘Jackpot 1230’ growth and development was fast, both the medley cutting plant height reached 2 m, plant height and stem coarse performance was good, and the leaves were wider, and the crude protein content was higher (10.58%) than other plants; however, owing to the small number and reduced size of leaves, the hay yield was only 40.06 t·ha⁻¹. Comprehensive analysis showed that the grand ‘Jackpot 1180’, ‘Jackpot 1230’, and ‘Big kahuna’ in the region were adaptable, had strong regeneration capacity, and a high feeding value. These varieties could thus be suitable for the promotion and cultivation of sweet sorghum varieties for feeding.