Fermentation patterns in the silages of seven sorghum genotypes cut at 102 days, varying in height and stem moisture were studied. Laboratory silos were opened after 7, 14, 28 and 56 days from ensilage. Dry matter percentages varied among the different types of sorghum and they were associated to moistness and sugar contents in stem. The dry stem genotypes showed higher values than wet stem genotypes. Silages at 56 days fermentation showed dry matter content varying from 23.1 to 36.1%. pH from the seven sorghum silages were already stabilized within seven days of fermentation and oscillated from 3.5 to 4.3 at 56 days of fermentation. The high and wet stem sorghums showed the highest levels of soluble carbohydrates ranging from 4.0 to 17.2% in the original material. With 56 days the variation in lactic acid content was from 2.8 to 8.5%, and the medium height sorghums showed the lowest values. The ammonia nitrogen in relation to total nitrogen percentage ranged from 3.8 to 6.3% at 56 days of fermentation.
Sorghum; silage; fermentation; pattern
