Three hybrids of sorghum with medium height (BR700, BR701 e MASSA 03) for silage production were evaluated. Hybrids were harvest at five different maturation stages. Dry matter content, pH, ammonia nitrogen, crude protein, fibrous fractions, in vitro dry matter digestibility and organic acids were determined in silage. A completely randomized block design with three replicates was used. The treatments consisted in a factorial arrangement 5x3 (maturation stages x hybrids). The means were compared by SNK test (P<0.05). Dry matter content and pH values increased with the maturation stage; pH values were always lower than 4.09. No effects of maturation stage of the plant on ammonia nitrogen, fibrous fractions and in vitro dry matter digestibility were found. Organic acids contents suggested that the fermentation inside the silo was enough for preservation of the forage.
sorghum; organic acid; dry matter; harvest moment
