The variation in the availability of forage throughout the year and the need to use low-cost food for ruminants contributed to an increase in the search for new food alternatives. This study aimed to evaluate the yield of the dry mass of vines and the effect of wilting on the chemical composition and fermentative capacity of sweet potato vines for silage production. The evaluated genotypes were BD-08, BD-23, BD-25, BD-31TO, BD-38, BD-43 and Brazlândia Roxa, using a 7x2 factorial arrangement (genotype x wilted vines or not), in a randomized block design, with four replications. We determined the dry matter yield (PMS) and dry matter (MS), crude protein (PB), neutral detergent fiber (FDN), acid detergent fiber (FDA), cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, ash, water soluble carbohydrates (CS), acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (NIDA), buffering capacity (CT) and fermentative capacity (CF) of fresh and wilted vines. The MS of vines ranged from 4.2 to 7.9 t ha-1, with emphasis on BD-25, BD-08 and BD-23 with yields higher than 7.0 t ha-1. Wilting promoted increase in MS (15.7 to 25.7%), PB (11.0 to 11.9%), FDA (29.2 to 41.7%), lignin (8.6 to 15.5%), cellulose (19.3 to 24.3%), ash (8.9 to 10.0%) and NIDA (9.7 to 32.8%), and reduced levels of CS (15.0 to 7.6%), making the wilted branches of poorer quality. Wilting did not affect the CF of the vines (average 37.2) and promoted an increase in FDN differently for each genotype. The highest levels of MS in wilted vines offset the lower level of CS, making similar the CF of vines.The sweet potato vines of all genotypes presented high potential for silage.
Ipomoea batatas; buffering capacity; lignin; neutral detergent fiber; water soluble carbohydrates
