EFFECT OF SOWING DENSITY ON YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) SILAGES

The agronomic and chemical characteristics of cultivars of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in silage making were evaluated. The hybrids Cargill C-11, Braskallb DK-180, DK 40-40, Morgon M-92007, M 742 and the variety V-2000 of EMBRAPA were utilized. The design was that of randomized blocks with four replicates in a 2 x 6 factorial scheme, the factors being sowing density and cultivars. At the moment of harvest were done determinations of plant height at the central rows of the plots. The plants were chopped mechanically into particles 2 to 3 cm in size, ensiled for 30 days in PVC silos. The percentages and yields of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were evaluated. The average DM yield was of 8.5 ton/ha. In the silages, the average values in percentage of DM were for EE (14.42), for CP (11.81) and for NDF (54.84). The results, in general, allowed to conclude that compositional differences do occur in sunflower silages for cultivars and sowing density.