A agricultural Research Center
Research Report RC-1983-3 April 1983
FORAGE PRODUCTION FROM SUGAR SORGHUM, FORAGE SORGHUM AND
SORGHUM X SUDANGRASS HYBRIDS AT ONA ARC: 1982
R. S. Kalmbacher, D. L. Wright and F. G. Martin-
Sorghum x sudangrass and forage sorghums may provide valuable supple-
ments to perennial grasses during periods of feed shortages when harvested
and fed as green chop or stored as silage. Some forage sorghum hybrids
may produce more dry matter per acre than corn, however, digestible energy
is usually lower in sorghum. Sugar sorghums have good potential for
forage as well as for producing a fermentable carbohydrate for ethanol
production.
Sorghums that are seeded in early March are ready for ensiling within
90 to 100 days. They may be cut 2 or perhaps 3 times during the growing
season. Generally, the best yield and animal performance is obtained
when plants are ensiled at physiological maturity, which maximizes grain
content.
In order to determine adaptability and p dUt yy hum
hybrids, which are constantly being released y puIM andd ) ypl nt
breeders, it is necessary that these hybrids e tested under south-c trial
Florida conditions. The purpose of this publ catio Uisit jt ~ ent c arative
data on the various hybrids tested at the Ona Agricultural Research enter
(ARC). Crop management was intended to simul at.hgt. M, f r.silag production.
Where trade names are used no discrimination M ?OM mR ed.
Methods of Procedure
Eleven sorghum x sudangrass plus one true sudangrass, ten forage
sorghum, ten sugar sorghum hybrids were seeded at 10, 10, and 8 Ib/A,
respectively, in 30 inch row spacings on March 19, 1982. The three
experimental designs were randomized, complete blocks with four replications.
1/ Associate Professor (Associate Agronomist), Ona ARC; Associate Extension
Agronomist, Agricultural Research and Education Center,. Quincy; Associate
Professor, Dept. of Statistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Fertilization consisted of 50 and 100 Ib/A of P205 and K20,
respectively, which was disked into the seedbed before seeding. Eighteen
days after seeding 100 Ib/A of N was applied. When plants were 18 to 24
inches tall (April 29), 100-50-50 lb/A of N-P205-K20 was applied.
Sorghum x Sudangrass was harvested on June 16, forage sorghum on June 24,
and the sugar sorghum was harvested on June 29. A second application of
fertilizer.was applied on June 30 at a rate of 50-25-25 Ib/A of
N-P205-K20 to encourage regrowth. On August 10, when plants were about
30 inches tall, 100-50-50 lb/A of N-P205-K20 was applied. The second
harvest of sorghum x sudangrass and forage sorghum hybrids were removed
on September 10 and September 30, respectively. Sugar sorghum was not
harvested a second time.
Atrazine was post-emergence applied at 2.0 lb/A (active) for weed
control. The experiments were broadcast sprayed with paraquat at 0.25
lb/A active, one day after harvest to control weeds between harvests.
Furadan(R) 10 G was applied in the row at seeding at 2 Ib/A active to
control soil-born insects. The experiment was irrigated with an over-
head system, and 4.3 inches were applied from March to May.
Results and Discussion
Sugar sorghums
There were significant differences in the yields of sugar sorghums
(Table 1). Yield ranged from 6.1 T/A (Keller) to 2.3 T/A (Ramada) and
averaged 4.4 T/A. Hybrids were only harvested once instead of the usual
two harvests because of excessive rain in June. Average rain for June
(39 year avg.) is 8.58 inches, but in June 1982 15.44 inches was measured.
These single harvest data were found to be lower than first harvest yields
of sugar sorghum from previous years.
Lodging was a severe problem with four hybrids: Ramada, Sart, Rio,
and Dale (Table 1). Dry matter ranged from 27 to 34% and averaged 31%
(Table 1). Hybrids ranged from milk to hard dough stage of maturity at
harvest. Disease was not a problem at this early harvest. Hybrids
ranged in height from 6.1 to 7.6 feet and averaged 6.9 (Table 1).
Forage sorghwns
Significant differences were found in dry matter yields of the ten
hybrids tested (Table 2). There was a tendency for better yielding hybrids
to be consistently higher in yield at both harvests. Yield at harvest
1, 2, and total yield was highest for Pioneer 911 (14.4 T/A total),
followed by Dekalb FS 25 A (11.8 T/A total). Average yield was 5.9 T/A
at harvest 1 and 3.3 T/A at harvest 2. Total yield (9.2 T/A) was
considerably lower than the 5-year average of 13.0 T/A (Table 3) because
of excessive rain during the 1982 growing season.
S1
3.
Use of a single year's data is not recommended for selecting a
hybrid. Yields of these hybrids that have been tested for 2 to 5 years
are presented in Table 3. Better hybrids are Dekalb FS 25 A, Pioneer
947, Gold Kist (Growers) 30 F, Northrup King 367. Although Pioneer 911
is a very high yielding hybrid with excellent resistance to lodging, it
remains vegetative and produces no grain.
Lodging was a problem in 1982 because of high wind and heavy rain
(Table 4). Two hybrids with excellent resistance to lodging were Pioneer
911 and Pioneer 947. Northrup King 367.also had little lodging (9%) in
1982. Lodging was not a problem at harvest 2. Dry matter at harvest 1
ranged from 28 to 55% and averaged 36%. High dry matter percentage
resulted when plants lodged several weeks before harvest and died. At
harvest 2, when there was no lodging, dry matter percentage was more
uniform and ranged from 27 to 33%. Disease (Helminthosporiwn spp) was not
a problem at harvest 1, but at harvest 2 the ratings ranged from 5.3 (low
incidence) to 7.3 (high incidence). Those hybrids with significantly lower
disease had significantly higher yield (Table 4).
Sorghnu x Sudangrass
Significant differences in the yield of sorghum.x sudangrass hybrids
were found (Table 5). Higher yielding entries were McCurdy Sweet M
(11.6 T/A) and Northrup King Sordan 79 (10.9 T/A). These hybrids were
among higher yielding varieties for both harvests. Total.average yield
ranged from 4.0 to 11.6 T/A and averaged 9.1 T/A (Table 5). Total yield
was lower than the 5 year average of 11.2 T/A (Table 6) because of
excessive rains.
Based on the results of 2 to 5 years of testing, McCurdy Sweet M,
Taylor Evans Haygrazer, Northrup King Sordan 79, Gold Kist FFR 66 and
Gold Kist Unigraze appear to be better hybrids for silage production
(Table 6). This does not imply that this same rating would hold true
when sorghum x sudangrass is managed for grazing purposes.
Percentage dry matter at harvest 1 averaged 32 and 28 at harvest 2
(Table 7). Lodging was severe at harvest 1 averaging 61%, but there was no
lodging at harvest 2. There were a few hybrids that sustained slightly less
lodging than others, but none had less than 30% lodging. Incidence of
disease was very slight at harvest 1, but when crops were growing through
the hot, wet summer, average incidence was rated at 7.3 out of a possible
10. Stands of sorghum x sudangrass were thinned-out due to excessive
water, lodging, disease, etc. Those hybrids that were higher yielding had
88 to 100% of their original stand, but stands of lower yielding entries
were decimated to as low as 12% by the harvest 2 date.
Conclusions
1. Ten sugar sorghum hybrids were tested, and significant differences
in yield were found. Excessive summer rain limited production to a
single crop instead of two crops.. Better yielding entries were
Keller (6.1 T/A); M 81 E (6.0 T/A); Wray (5.9 T/A) and Mn 1500
(5.5 T/A).
2. Ten forage sorghums were tested, and significant differences in dry
matter yield were found. Based on the five year averages (including
1982 results) recommended varieties for central Florida include:
Dekalb FS 25 A (14.5 T//A), Pioneer 947 (13.7 T/A); Pioneer 923
(13.4 T/A); McCurdy F 75 (11.6 T/A). Pioneer 947 and Dekalb FS 25 A
have also demonstrated better resistance to lodging. Northrup King
367 has only been tested for three years, but also has high yield
(14.1 T/A 3 yr.avg.) and excellent standability.
3. Eleven sorghum x sudangrass hybrids and one true sudangrass were
tested and significant differences in dry matter were found where
harvested at the dough stage of maturity. The following hybrids
have been consistently higher yielding hybrids: McCurdy Sweet M
(11.6 T/A, 5 yr. avg.); Taylor Evans Haygrazer (11.6 T/A, 4 yr. avg.);
Northrup King Sordan 79 (13 T/A, 2 yr. avg.).
5.
Table 1. Average yield, lodging, dry matter and height of sugar sorghum hybrids
grown at Ona ARC, 1982.
Hybrid Yield Lodging Dry matter Height
DM T/A ------- --------- -feet-
Keller 6.1 at 0 32 7.4
M 81 E (Mer. 71-1) 6.0 a 0 31 7.6
Wray 5.9 ab 0 27 6.2
Mn 1500 5.5 ab 0 29 7.0
Rio 4.8 b 50 34 7.1
Dale 4.7 b 50 28 7.7
Sart 3.3 c 75 32 6.4
Theis 3.1 c- 0 33 6.8
Brandes 2.6 c 0 27 6.1
Ramada 2.3 c 100 34 6.2
Average 4.4 28 31 6.9
t USDA hybrids from U.S. Sugar Crops Field Station. Meridian, MS.
Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different (Duncan's
LSD, K=100).
Date seeded: 19 March 1982
Seeding rate: 8 lb/A in 30" rows.
Fertilization: 1) at seeding 50 and 100 lb/A of P205 and K20, respectively.
2) 100 Ib/A of N, 18 days after seeding.
3) 100-50-50 lb/A of N-P205-K20 when plants were 18" to 28"
tall (29 April).
Harvest: 29 June 1982 (102 day growing season).
Herbicide: Atrazine, post emergence applied at 2.0 lb/A active.
Insecticide: Furadan 10 G in row at seeding at 2.0 Ib/A active.
Irrigation: overhead with 4.3 inches applied in 23 March to 19 May.
6.
Table 2. Dry matter yield of forage sorghum hybrids grown at Ona ARC 1982.
Harvest 1 Harvest 2 Total
(24 June) (sg. Sept.)
----------dry matter T/A----------
Brand
Pioneer
Dekalb
Northrup King
Pioneer
Acco
Pioneer
McCurdy
Northrup King
Taylor Evans
Taylor Evans
Average
Hybrid
911
FS 25 A
367
947
Paymaster FS-451
923
F 75 A
300
Silomilo 2
Silomilo
t Means within
LSD, K=100).
columns followed by the same letter are not different
Date seeded: 19 March 1982.
Seeding rate: 10 lb/A in 30" rows.
Fertilization:
Herbicide:
at seeding 50 and 100 Ib/A of P205 and K20, respectively.
100 lb/A N, 18 days after seeding
100-50-50 lb/A of N-P205-K20 when plants were 18" to 24"
tall.
50-25-25 Ib/A after harvest 1.
100-50-50 Ib/A when sorghum regrew to 30" (10 Aug).
Atrazine, post emergence applied at 2.0 lb/A active. Immediately
after harvest 1, broadcast application of paraquat at 0.25 lb/A
active.
Insecticide: Furadan 10 G at 2.0 lb/A active in row at seeding.
Irrigation: Overhead sprinklers applying 4.3 inches 23 March to 19 May.
at
ab
bc
cde
e
cde
cde
bcd
cde
de
8.0
7.5
6.5
5.9
4.5
5.5
5.4
6.1
5.0
4.8
5.9
a
b
bc
b
b
bcd
cde
de
de
e
6.4
4.3
3.8
4.1
4.1
2.9
2.5
1.2
2.2
2.2
3.3
14.4
11.8
10.3
9.7
8.6
8.4
7.9
7.3
7.2
7.0
9.2
a
b
bc
bcd
cde
cde
de
e
e
e
(Duncan's
I
Table 3. Dry matter yield
1978 to 1982.
of forage sorghum hybrids grown at the Ona ARC
Hybrid
1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
------------- T/A--
Grown for 5 years
FS 25 A
947
923
F 75*
19.1
17.1
19.3
17.3
13.7
15.6
12.0
12.5
Grown for 4 years
Pioneer
Gold Kist
911
30 F
Grown for 3 years
Northrup King 367
Funks .102 F
Taylor Evans Silomaker
Taylor Evans Silomilo
--- 17.8 23.7 20.2
16.6 9.7 13.0 13.0
----
13.9
14.2
15.7
----
9.8
11.5
Grown for 2 years
Titan M
Paymaster 451
16.7
----
16.7
9.4
12.4
t 1978 seeded in 18" rows, all others were 30" rows.
4 McCurdy F 75A in 1982.
Seeding dates: 3-20-78; 3-6-79; 3-14-80; 3-9-81; 3-19-82.
Brand
Year
Dekalb
Pioneer
Pioneer
McCurdy
Average
15.6
14.5
13.1
11.3
12.3
11.5
14.0
9.0
11.8
9.7
8.4
7.9
14.4
10.3
7.0
8.6
9.7
14.5
13.7
13.4
11.6
19.0
13.1
14.1
12.0
11.9
10.4
10.2
10.6
13.0
Asgrow
Acco
Average
16.-3
12.4
10.1
8.4
10.9
13.6
15.7
12.6
13.5
Table 4. Agronomic characteristics of forage sorghumhybrids grown at Ona ARC, 1982.
Harvest 1
Harvest 2
Brand
Hybrid
Pioneer
Dekalb
Northrup King
Pioneer
Acco
Pioneer
McCurdy
Northrup King
Taylor Evans
Taylor Evans
Average
911
FS 25 A
367
947
Paymaster FS 451
923
F-75 A
300
Silomilo 2
Silomilo
Dry matter
Lodging
0
45
9
0
85
99
99
75
68
100
58
Disease
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Dry matter Lodging
---------%---------
Disease
5.3 d*
5.3 d
6.0 bed
7.0 ab
5.8 cd
5.8 ed
6.3 abed
7.3 a
6.8 abc
6.5 abc
6.2
Height
-feet-'
9.5
8.4
9.0
8.1
7.9
8.5
9.4
6.6
7.5
7.1
8.2
t Disease rated on a scale 1 to 10, 1= no disease, 10=total loss.
t Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different (Duncan's LSD, K=100).
-----------%--------
Table 5. Dry matter yield of sorghum x
production at Ona ARC, 1982.
sudangrass hybrids grown for silage
Brand
McCurdy
Northrup King
Funks
Conlee
Pennington
Taylor Evans
Asgrow
Gold Kist
Pennington
Dekalb
Acco
Northrup King
Average
I
Harvest 1
(16 June)
Hybrid
Sweet M
Sordan 79
FP-3
Do Mor
Summer Grazer 3
Haygrazer II
Grazer N
Unigraze
Summer Grazer
SX 17+
Sweet Sioux IV
Trudan 8 (sudangrass)
8.4 at
6.8 abe
7.6 ab
7.0 abc
6.2 abcd
6.1 abcd
6.6 abcd
6.6 abcd
5.8 abed
5.0 bcd
4.2 ed
3.6 d
6.2
harvest 2
(10 Sept.) Total
T/A-------------
3.2
4.1
3.1
3.2
3.9
3.7
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.9
3.0
0.4
2.9
abc
a
abc
abc
a
ab
abc
abed
bed
abc
abc
e
11.6
10.9
10.7
10.2
10.1
9.8
9.4
9.2
8.2
7.9
7.2
4.0
9.1
a
a
ab
abc
abc
abc
adc
abed
abed
abed
bcde
e
t Means within columnsfollowed by the same
different (Duncan's LSD, K=100).
Date seeded: 19 March 1982.
Seeding rate: 10 lb/A in 30" rows.
Fertilization:
Herbicide:
letter are not significantly
at seeding 50 and 100 lb/A of P205 and K20, respectively.
100 lb/A N, 18 days after seeding.
100-50-50 lb/A of N-P205-K20 when plants were 18" to 24"
tall.
50-25-25 lb/A after harvest 1.
100-50-50 Ib/A when sorghum regrew to 30" (10 Aug).
Atrazine post emergence at 2 Ib/A active. After harvest 1,
paraquat broadcast at 0.25 lb/A, active.
Insecticide: Furadan 10 G at 2.0 lb/A active in row at seeding.
Irrigation: Overhead with 4.3 inches applied 23 March to 19 May.
.1 -- r
Table 6. Average dry matter yields of sorghum x sudangrass
silage at the Ona ARC, 1977 to 1982.
hybrids grown for
Year
%Brand
Hybrid
Grown for 5 years
1977t 1978 1980
------ -------- T/A.
1981 1982
McCurdy
Dekalb
Sweet M
SX 17+
Grown for 4 years
Taylor Evans Haygrazer+
Pennington
Summer grazer
12.5
10.8
13.6
11.7
9.7
8.0
10.5 13.9
8.9 11.3
9.2 14.7
10.9 ---
11.3
Grown for 3 years
Fla. Feed & Gator Grazer
Seed
Grown for 2 years
Northrup King Sordan 79
Gold Kist FFR 66
Gold Kist Unigraze
Acco
Average
Sweet Sioux IV
9.4 10.3 11.3
--- --- 11.8
12.2 9.4 11.2
t 1977 seeded in 18" rows, all other years
30" rows.
* Haygrazer II seeded in 1982.
Seeding dates: 3-4-77; 3-20-78-; 3-14-80; 3-9-81; 3-19-82.
Average
11.6
7.9
9.8
8.2
11.6
9.4
11.6
10.5
15.0
12.8
13.5
13.0
12.8
10.3
13.0
12.8
11.4
10.1
11.2
10.9
9.2
7.2
9.3
-------------------
Agronomic characteristics of sorghum x sudangrass hybrids grown for silage at Ona ARC, 1982.
Dry matter Lodging
--- --------
Harvest 1 Harvest 2
Height Disease Dry matter Height Disease Stand
-feet- t % -feet- t %
McCurdy
Northrup King
Funks
Conlee
Pennington
Taylor Evans
Asgrow
Gold Kist
Pennington
Dekalb
Acco Paymaster
Northrup King
Average
Sweet M
Sordan 79
FP-3
Do Mor
Summer Grazer 3
Haygrazer II
Grazer N
Unigraze
Summer grazer
SX 17+
Sweet Sioux IV
Trudan 8
t Disease rated on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1= no disease, 10 total loss.
Brand
Hybrid
4.
1
31
33
28
29
34
33
26
25
37
32
9.0
10.0
9.0
8.5
8.4
8.5
8.7
8.3
8.5
7.8
7.9
36
30
28
26
29
33
28
27
26
26
24
25
28
9.6
9.4
9.1
8.6
8.9
8.8
9.0
8.0
9.0
10.8
9.1
7.0
8.9
100
61
7.8
7.3
6.8
6.5
7.0
7.3
8.3
6.8
8.3
6.0
6.5
8.5
7.3
88
89
98
100
89
100
98
51
96
70
85
12
81
Table 7.
HISTORIC NOTE
The publications in this collection do
not reflect current scientific knowledge
or recommendations. These texts
represent the historic publishing
record of the Institute for Food and
Agricultural Sciences and should be
used only to trace the historic work of
the Institute and its staff. Current IFAS
research may be found on the
Electronic Data Information Source
(EDIS)
site maintained by the Florida
Cooperative Extension Service.
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