EFFECT OF THE CUTTING TIME ON THE QUALITY INDICES OF AIR-DRY MASS IN FOXTAIL MILLETS (SUBSP. MOCHARIUM AL., SUBSP. MAXIMUM AL.) AND JAPANESE MILLET

The study aimed to clarify nutrients (protein, fat, fibre) in the air-dry matter of foxtail millets (subsp. Mocharium Al., subsp. Maximum Al.) and Japanese millet and to determine the optimum time for harvesting the forage mass. The study was conducted on the experimental field and laboratory base of the North Caucasus Federal Scientific Centre in 2022–2023. It employed the methods of field and laboratory experiments according to the approved program. The green mass was harvested for the first time 30, 40 and 50 days after the seedling emergence; the second cutting was done after the first harvest within similar time interval. The Stamoga (subsp. Mocharium Al.), Stachumi 3 (subsp. Maximum Al.) and Stapaiz (Japanese millet) varieties showed good resistance to the dry conditions of the Stavropol Territory. The minimum values of dry mass moisture (7.71 %) were obtained in the Stamoga variety during the second cutting on the 50th day after the first harvest. The highest protein in dry mass (15.18–17.15 %) was found on the 30th day of the vegetation period during the first and second cuttings. The maximum fat was revealed on cutting the crop on days 40 and 50 of the vegetation period during the first harvesting (3.96–4.08 %) and on days 30–50 after the first cutting (4.04–4.34 %). During the second harvesting, the fibre increases (14.52–14.72 %) compared to the first cutting (13.89–14.77 %). The amount of fibre increases by 0.09–1.08 % when cutting on the 50th day of plant aftergrowth compared to 30 days. The Stachumi 3 variety demonstrated the best indices of plant height (1.27 m) with the first harvesting done on the 50th day of the vegetation period. Also, the Stachumi 3 variety had the largest values of foliage at 50.82 %. The Stamoga variety produced the maximum yield of green mass (31.07 t/ha). The best dry matter indices were found in Stachumi 3 variety (8.14 t/ha).