.. -HUi'iE LIBRARY
JUL I u i/id
/ Agricultural Research Center i.F.A.S. Univ. of Foria ,
Research Report RC-1977-4 January 1977
EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL FORAGE SORGHUM HYBRIDS
AT ARC, ONA AND IMMOKALEE. 1976.
R.S. Kalmbacher, P.H. Everett, and V.E. Green, Jr. -
When harvested as green chop or harvested and stored as silage, forage or
silage sorghums may provide a valuable supplement to perennial grasses during
periods of feed shortages. Some forage sorghums hybrids may produce more dry
matter per acre than corn, but these sorghums are usually lower in energy.
Forage sorghums that are seeded in late February are ready for ensiling
90-100 days later. They may be harvested 2 or perhaps 3 times during the entire
growing season. Generally, the best animal performance is obtained when plants
are ensiled after physiological maturity, which maximizes grain content.
In order to determine adaptability and productivity, of forage sorghum hybrids,
which are constantly being released, it is necessary that these hybrids, be tested
under south-central Florida conditions. The purpose of this publication is to
present comparative data on the various hybirds tested at Ona and Immokalee.
Where trade names are used no discrimination or endorsement is intended.
Methods of Procedure
At the Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Ona 15 commercial forage sorghum
hybrids were seeded at 16 lb/A in 18" row spacings on March 10, 1976. At the ARC,
Immokalee 13 hybrids were seeded at 16 lb/A on 18" row spacings on March 5, 1976.
The experimental designs were randomized complete blocks with 4 and 3 replications
at Ona and Immokalee, respectively.
Fertilization practices at Ona consisted of 0-112-224 Ib/A of N-P205-K20,
resp., which was broadcast and disked into the seedbed. After seedling emergence
50 lb/A N was applied. When plants were 16-18" tall, 100 lb N/A was applied.
After both the first and second harvest 100 lb/A N was applied.
SAssistant Professor (Assistant Agronomist), ARC, Ona; Professor Director,
ARC, Immokalee; Professor (Agronomist) Agronomy Department, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
At Immokalee 2000 Ib/A dolomite, 0-60-120 Ib/A of N-P 05-K20 plus 20 lb/A
FTE 503 I/ was broadcast and disked into the seedbed. A starter fertilizer,
10-30-10 at 200 Ib/A was banded in the row at seeding. At seedling emergence
50 Ib N/A plus 50 Ib/A 0-0-60 (muriate of potash) was applied.
Weed control at Ona and Immokalee consisted of AAtrex (R) at 2 Ib/A active
ingredient. After harvest 2 at Ona the forage sorghums received k Ib/A Paraquat (R)
to control annual grasses which had established late in the summer.
Results and Discussion
Forage Sorghums at ARC, Ona.
Forage sorghums were harvested 3 ti-mes at the ARC, Ona. Harvest 1 and 2
was taken when the grain was in the dough stage, and harvest 3 was taken at
anthesis. Whole plant dry matter averaged 27.8, 25.5 and 19.6%,resp. (Table 1).
Pennington 'Pennsilage A', Dekalb 'FS 25a' and McNair 'HO-K' were the highest
yielding with 20.6, 20.5, and 20.1 tons/acre dry matter. (Table 1). The 15
entries averaged 15.1 T/A.
As compared with previous years, the 1976 forage sorghum yields were greater
(Table 2). Dry matter yield has generally averaged 8 to 9 T/A. The primary
reason for this was weather. Normally, yield is adversely affected by excessive
moisture during the mid-summer. During the 1976 season at Ona these sorghums
were cut 3 times instead of the customary 2 times. The rows were also spaced
18" apart in 1976 instead of 36" apart. This may have added to the higher yields
of 1976.
Several forage sorghums have been tested for 3 to 5 years. Taylor Evans
'Milkmaker', Taylor Evans 'TDN, Pennington 'Pennsilage', Funks '102-F', and Acco
'FS 401 R' have proved to be among the better hybrids for the Ona area (Table 2).
Since one year of testing may not provide reliable results, hybrids with several'
years of test.results should be selected if possible.
Lodging due to excessive winds was problem at Ona (Table 3). At harvest 1
(6-9-76) Taylor Evans 'Milkmaker', 'Silomaker', Growers '30 F', and Ring Around
'Silo Fill 35' lodged severely.
The diseases, anthracnose and northern corn leaf blight, were not
found at harvest 1. Later in the growing season they were wide-spread, but
no single hybrid was especially infected (Table 3).
2/
Fritted micronutrients having the following elemental content: Iron 18.0%;
Manganese 7.5%! Zinc 7.0%; Copper 3.5%; Boron 3.5% and Molybdenum 0.2%.
Forage Sorghums ARC, Immokalee.
The 13 forage sorghums at Immokalee averaged 6.7 tons/A dry matter. All
hybrids were harvested twice, when the grain was at the dough stage of maturity.
Dry matter yield ranged from 8.7 to 5.0 T/A (Table 4). McNair 'Energy Plus',
Taylor Evans 'Milkmaker' and Funk 102-F were the highest yielding hybrids, pro-
ducing 8.7, 7.8 and 7.7 T/A, resp.
Lodging was not a pro lem at the ARC, Immakaloe at wither harvest. Anthrac-
nose and northern corn leaf blight were problems at harvest 2, and again no
hybrid in particular was more seriously affected (Table 5).
Conclusions
Fifteen forage sorghums were tested at the ARC Ona where total dry matter
yield after 3 harvests averaged 15.1 T/A. Pennington 'Pennsilage A', Dekalb
'FS 25a', and McNair 'HO-K' were the highest yielding, producing:20.6, 20.5
and 20.1 T/A, resp. Lodging was a serious problem at harvest 1. The diseases
anthracnose and northern corn leaf blight were wide-spread at harvests 2 and 3.
At the ARC, Immokalee, 13 forage sorghum hybrids were tested. After 2
harvests total yield averaged 6.7.T/A. McNair 'Energy Plus', Taylor Evans
'Milkmaker', and Funk '1-2-F' were the highest yielding varieties with 8.7,
7.8 and 7.7 T/A, resp. Lodging was not a problem, but anthracnose and northern
corn leaf blight were wide-spread among hybrids at harvest 2.
These data indicate forage sorghums will produce high yields of quality
forage in a relatively short time period. However, to obtain maximum utilization
of these high yielding hybrids, plants must be green chopped or harvested for
silage and not grazed due to the course sorghum stems. In addition total yields
ranged from 11.3 to 20.6 T/A at Ona and from 5.0 to 8.7 T/A at Immokalee,
pointing out the fact that hybrids definitely differ in yielding ability from
location to location. To obtain maximum yields proper fertility practices,
hybrid selection and water control is required.
Table 1. Dry matter yield of forage sorghum hybrids (Ton/Acre) grown at
the ARC, Ona. 1976.
Brand
Hybrid
Pennington
Dekalb
McNair
McNair
Taylor Evans
Growers
Taylor Evans
Acco
Funk
Dekalb
Funk
Ring Around
Funk
Pennington
Taylor Evans
Pennsilage A
FS 25 a
HO-K
Energy Plus
T-E Milkmaker
30F
T-E Silomaker
FS-401 R
102-F
FS-24
650-S
Silo Fill 35
G-103-S
Pennsilage
T-E TDN
% dry matter
1
6/9/76
10.5
8.1
9.3
7.4
6.8
5.7
5.3
6.3
6.7
5.5
6.1
5.3
5.5
5.0
5.1
27.8
Harvest
2
8/27/76
at
bc
ab
bcd
cde
def
def
cde
cde
def
cdef
def
def
ef
ef
4.2 b
6.7 a
4.9 b
4.2 b
2.7 cdef
3.3 c
3.0 cde
2.3 efg
2.5 cdef
3.3 c
2.9 cde
2.4 defg
1.6 g
3.0 cde
3.2 cd
25.5
3
11/1/76
5.9
5.7
5.9
5.3
5.7
6.2
6.5
5.5
4.5
4.6
4.3
5.0
5.6
3.5
3.0
19.6
abc
abc
abc
bcde
bede
obc
ab
a
bcd
ef
def
fg
cdef
cdef
gh
h
Total
20.6 a
20.5 a
20.1 a
16.9 b
15.2 bc
15.2 bc
14.8 bcd
14.1 cde
13.7 cdef
13.4 cdefg
13.3 cdefg
12.7 defg
12.7 defg
11.5 efg
11.3 g
SMeans within columns followed by the same letter are not significantly
different (K=100. Duncan's least significant difference test).
Date Seeded: March 10, 1976.
Seeding Rate: 16 Ibs/A.
Row Spacing: 18"
Fertilization: 0-112-224#/A (N-P 05-K2O). 50# N/A at emergence; 100# N/A when
plants 16-18" tall; l00# N/A applied after harvest 1 and 2.
Herbicide: AAtrex @ 2# active/A. Paraquat @ k# acid/A after harvest 2.
Results: Good to excellent.
Maturity: Harvest 1, dough; harvest 2, dough; harvest 3, anthesis.
Irrigation: Overhead (4.7" applied).
Table 2. Dry matter yields of forage sorghum hybridss grown at the
ARC, Ona, 1972-1976.
Dry Matter Yield (T/A)
Brand Hybrid 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 Av.
Grown for any five years 1972-1976
Tayler Evans Milkmaker 6.3 9.3 5.9 9.8
Grown for any four years 1972,1976
Pennington Pennsilae 14.2 9.1 --
Grown for any three years 1972-1976
Funks 102 F --
Acco FS-401 R 10.2
Taylor Evans TDN 5.8
Dekalb FS 4 10.2
Ruby Patrick 55 F 7.6
Dekalb FS 24 --
Grown any one or two years 1972-1976
Pennington
Pennsilage A
Dekdal FS 25 A
McNIir HO-K
Growers 30 F
Pioneer 931
Funk 650-S
McNair Energy Plus
Ring Around Silo Fill 35
Funk G-103-S
Taylor Evans Silomaker
Asgrow Beefbuilder T
Acco FS 531
Asgrow Titan R
Excel Silofill 33 A
Dekalb FS 1 B
Haile-Dean Cow Vittles
Dekalb FS 28 A
Acco 404
Funk G-650-S
Average: Within Years
16.1
9.9
9.1
4.9
9.4
10.1
10.4
8.1
7.5
13.9
8.9
7.5
7.6
9.2
6.1
5.0
5.9
4.5
6.4
5.9
6.2
6.3
5.8
4.3
5.7
- 15,2 9.3
8.4 11.5 10.8
10.3
10.3
8.8
7.2
9.1
13.7
14.1
11.3
13.4
20.6
20.5
20.1
15.2
13.3
16.9
12.7
12.7
14.8
15.1
9.9
9.7
9.1
8.8
8.6
8.4
20.6
20.5
20.1
15.2
15.0
13.3
12,8
12.7
12.7
12.3
9.1
7.6
7.5
6.7
6,7
6.3
5.8
4.9
4.3
Seeding Date: 1972, 3-16; 1973, 3-13; 1974, 3-6; 1975, 3-14; 1976, 3-10.
Table 3. Agronomic characteristics of forage sorghum hybrids grown at the
Harvest
Brana inyu j
Penningto
Dekalb
McNair
Mcl: ir '
TIc-yci- rI
Taylo:: LE
Acc
Funk
Dekalb
Funk
Ring Around
Funk
in Pennsilage A
FS '5 a
.-HO-K
Energy Plus
ens T-E Milkmaker
3b F,
ars T-E Silomaker
FS-401-R
S024-
PS-24
650-S
Eilo Fill 35
G-103-S
Height
(ft)
7.9
7.1
7.9
6.9
6.9
6.0
::6.0
6.3
6.0
5.6
6/9/76
Disease
(%)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Lodging
Lodging
(7)
1
1
15
5
40
40
35
10
10
10
5.6
5.7
5.2
Height
-
Pennington zennsilage 5.7 0 10 6.7 15
Taylor Evans T-E TDN 6.0 0 5 6.7 10
Average .' 6.3 0 17 6.9 11
Date Seeded: March 10, 1976.
Seeding Rate: 16 lb/A
Row Spqcing: 18" "
Fertilization: 0-112-2204k/A (N-PO05-K?20); 50# N/A at emergence; 100# N/A
applied after hb-i'rs-t 1 end 2. '
Herbicide: AAtrex 0 2# active/A. Paraquct @ i4i acid/A. 3Sftr harvest 2.
Maturity: Harvest 1, dough; harvest 2, dough; harvest 3, anthesis.
ARC, Ona 1976
Lodging
Height
8/27/76
Disease
(%)
5
5
10
20
20
10
10
15
5
10
when plants
16-18" tall; 100# N/A
3
11/1/76
Disease
(7-)
20
10
15.
S5
5
15,
5
10
10
Height
(ft)
7.5
7.5
8.0
7.0
5.0
7.5
7.5
6.7
7.0
6.7
6.7
6.8
5.8
Lodging
(.)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Height
(ft)
10.0
8.3
9.8
9.0
9.1
8.8
8.9
8.7
8.3
8.3
., 1976.
ARC, Ona
Lodging
(%)
0
b
b
0
0
0
0
0
0
b
0
0 8.0 5 0
0 8.6 5 0
0 8.3 '. 10.
0 8.3 10 0
0 8.3 10 0
0 9 10 0
Table 4. Dry matter yield of forage sorghum hybrids (ton/acre)
grown at the ARC, Immokalee 1976.
Harvest
Brand
Hvbrid
McNair
Taylor Evans
Funk
Growers
McNair
Taylor Evans
Pennington
Dekalb
Ring Around
Taylor Evans
Dekalb
Acco
Funk
Energy Plus
T-E Milkmaker
102-F
30-F
HO-K
T-E Silomaker
Pennsilage
FS-25 a
Silo Fill 35
T-E TDN
FS-24
FS 401-R
650-S
1
6/7/76
6.6 a +
6.1 ab
5.2 bcd
5.2 bcd
5.7 abc
4.8 cd
4.9 cd
5.0 cd
4.9 cd
4.5 de
4.4 de
3.8 ef
3.4 f
2
9/1/76
2.1 a
1.7 al
2.5 al
2.1 al
1.6 b
2.4 al
2.2 al
1.5 b
1.6 b
1.8 a
1.7 a
1.9 a
1.6 b
Total
8.7 a
7.8 ab
7.7 ab
7.3 bc
7.3 bc
7.2 bcde
7.1 bcde
6.5 cdef
6.5 cdef
6.3 defg
6.1 efg
5.7 fgh
5.0 h
Means within columns followed by the same letter are not significantly
different (K=100 Duncan's least significant difference test).
Date Seeded: March 4, 1976.
Seeding Rate: 16 Ib/A
Row Spacing: 18"
Fertilization: Broadcast: 0-60-120#/A (N-P205-K20) + 20#/A FTE 503; 50# N/A +
80#/A 0-0-60 after emergence; 100# N/A + 80# 0-0-60 when plants
16-18" tall. 100# N/A applied after harvest 1. Starter fertilize
200#/A 10-30-10 in row.
Herbicide: AAtrex @ 2# active/A. Results: Good to excellent control.
Irrigation: Seepage.
Harvest
S.--
Table 5. Agronomic characteristics of forage sorghum hybrids grown at
the ARC, Immokalee.
Harvest:
1 .2
... 6/7/76 9/1/76
Brand Hybrid Height Disease Lodging Height Disease Lo.-'
------------- 5-----t) (7() 7) (t), () (-
IMcNair Energy Plus 6.8 0 0 5,3 10 0
Taylor Evans T-E Milkmaker 6.8 0 0 4.4 10 C
Funk 102-F 6.3 0 0 5.0 10
Growers 30-F 6.0 0 0 4.8 15 C
McNair HO-K 6.4 0 0 5.5 15 0
Taylor Evans T-E Silomaker 5.9 0 0 4.7 5 0
Pennington Pennsilage 5.8 0 0 4.8 15 0
Dekalb FS-25 a 6.8 0 0 4.3 10 0
Ring Around Silo Fill 35 6.0 0 0 4.4 5 0
Taylor Evans T-E TDN 6.4 0 0 4.0 10 0
Dekalb FS-24 6.3 0 0 4.0 10 0
Acco FS-401 R 6.0 0 0 4.3 5 0
Funk 650-S 5.9 0 0 3.8 10 0
Average 6.3 0 0 4.6 10 0
Date Seeded: March 4, 1976.
Seeding Rate: 16 lb/A.
Row Spacing: 18"
Fertilizatic
Herbicide:
Irrigation:
n: Broadcast: 0-60-120#/A (N-P205-K20) + 20#/A FTE 503; 50# N/A +
80#/A 0-0-60 after emergence; 100 # N/A + 80# 0-0-60 when plants
16-18" tall. 100# N/A applied after harvest 1. Starter fertiliz,
200#/A 10-30-10 in row.
AAtrex @ 2# active/A.
Seepage.
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.
Copyright 2005, Board of Trustees, University
of Florida
|