Abstract
In the conditions of the hill-plain agricultural zone of Northern Kazakhstan, the use of corn as a monoculture for silage production leads to a change in yield over the years. This is due to the high sensitivity of corn to weather conditions, especially in dry or cool years. The conducted research shows that the introduction of sugar sorghum and sunflower into the silo conveyor system can significantly reduce the amplitude of yield fluctuations and ensure more stable operation. Comparative field experiments are conducted in different years using corn (control), sugar sorghum and sunflower. It was found that in years with cool summers, sunflower produces the highest yield downwards, depending on the average active temperature. In recent years, sugar sorghum has surpassed corn and sunflower in terms of yield of absolutely dry substances. Sugar sorghum has a minimal content of digestible protein due to the higher proportion of leaves in the biomass, which makes it a valuable component of silage raw materials. Economic efficiency has shown that the use of a conveyor production system with the inclusion of sugar sorghum and sunflower is more efficient compared to a monoculture of corn. The average profitability of conveyor production for three years of research was 41.7–59.0%, which is 1.5–1.8 times higher than when using monoculture. Including sugar Thus, sugar sorghum and sunflower are promising crops for inclusion in silage production in the conditions of Northern Kazakhstan. Their use ensures stable silage production, increases economic efficiency, reduces risks associated with extreme weather conditions, and creates opportunities for research.