DETERMINATION OF THE SILAGE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT SWITCHGRASS (PANICUM VIRGATUM L.) CULTIVARS

This study was carried out to determine the silage quality characteristics of some switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars. Kanlow, Shelter, Shawnee, BoMaster, Alamo, Trailblazer, Cave in Rock and Long Island cultivars of switchgrass constituted the plant material of the study. For silage purposes, the plants were harvested 10-15 days after reaching the flowering period. The harvested plants were allowed to ferment for 70 days. According to the results, the silage of switchgrass cultivars was statistically significantly at p<0.01 level for both physical and chemical properties. In the study, pH content, the dry matter, lactic acid, butyric acid, acetic acid, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber ratios of the silage of switchgrass cultivars varied between 3.84-4.86, 39.0-51.0%, 1.78-2.35%, 0.05-0.33%, 0.35-1.55%, 3.76-5.57%, 39.30-41.73%, and 70.96-75.41%, respectively. In terms of the Fleig score, it was determined that the quality of the silage obtained from switchgrass cultivars could be classified as "very good". According to result, it was determined that BoMaster, Alamo, and Trailblazer cultivars, especially Long Island and Cave in Rock cultivars of switchgrass that came to the forefront in terms of silage quality, could be successfully used in silage production.