Sweet potato is widely used for human consumption, but has also potential for its use in animal feeding. In this study we evaluated yield and quality as forage of wilted vines of various sweet potato genotypes and selected the most suitable for silage. Fifteen genotypes were evaluated (BD-31TO, BD-26, BD-13, BD-17, BD-22, BD-24, BD-54, BD-56, BD-69, BD-43, BD-44, BD-46, BD-52, BD-35, and cultivar Brazlândia Rosada), in a randomized complete blocks design, with three replications. At harvest we determined the yield of fresh matter and subsequently dry matter of vines. After 190 days of ensilage, we determined the concentrations of dry matter, crude protein, neutral and acid detergent fiber, lignin, ash, soluble carbohydrates in both vines and its silages; buffering and fermentative capacities of vines, and pH of silages. Genotypes BD-13, BD-17, BD-54, BD-56, BD-43, BD-44, BD-46, and BD-52 showed medium to high yield of fresh and dry matter. There were significant differences among genotypes in all studied bromatological characteristics, except for carbohydrate concentrations in wilted vines and their silages. Considering wilted vines, genotypes BD-26, BD-13, BD-56, BD-46, BD-35 and cultivar Brazlândia Rosada were those with the most suitable bromatological composition for animal feeding. Genotype BD-56 was the most appropriate for silage production.
Ipomoea batatas; forage; bromatology; silage; genotype evaluation
