Forage Sorghum Variety Trials 2014

Forage sorghum and sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.) are an excellent source of supplemental forage in the summer and early-fall, especially in drought-stricken years or when many alfalfa pastures were winter-killed. Forage sorghum silage has about 88% of the feed value of corn silage, but it is much more drought tolerant than corn. Also, forage sorghum is being looked at as a promising source of lignocellulosic feedstock for biofuels. Forage sorghum is the highest yielding annual feedstock for the second generation biofuel industry in the northern Great Plains.

Experiments were planted in Fargo and prosper, ND. Seeding dates were 4 June in Fargo and 24 May in Prosper. Plots were 1.5 by 6 m long with 4 rows separated 30 cm apart. Seeding rates varied according to the cultivar or hybrid. Recommended rates for each cultivar were used. Both experiments and at both locations were fertilized 80 lbs N/acre. Plots were harvested 12 September in Fargo and 19 September in Prosper. Only the two-center rows were harvested. Soluble solids this years were not done, since we got an early frost right before harvest.

Forage sorghum variety trials results, 2014, are reported in tables 1 and 2. Both experiments were conducted at Fargo and Prosper, ND. The number of total entries (31) for these years trial were too many to randomize in one experiment. Both experiments were side by side and were planted and harvested at the same time, so values are comparable. I run the statistical analysis separate and results are presented it in two separate tables, each by location and combined across two locations.

In experiment 1, the check forage sorghum variety, FS-05, was among the highest yielding varieties in both locations and when locations were combined. Other varieties that ranked high and were not significantly different to the check variety in the combined analysis were: SS405, SPX901, SPX903, and SPX28313 (Table 1). Forage yield fluctuated between 4.66 and 9.26 tons/acre.

In Experiment 2, the highest yielding varieties were the sweet sorghums 54126, 56111, and 36111. Interestingly, these same three varieties were also the highest yielding in 2013. Yield combined across locations fluctuated between 4.36 and 9.80 tons/acre. Newer sweet sorghum line have significantly higher yield than the old sweet sorghum varieties, such as M81-EDale, Theis, and Top76-6.

The 2014 season was cooler and wetter than normal. The month of August had normal temperatures which compensated the slow growth of the months before resulting in very similar yields as in 2013.

Forage sorghum yields in 2014 were similar compared with previous years. In 2013, the forage yield for both locations combined fluctuated between 4.44 and 9.77 tons/A.

F = Fargo, P=Prosper, C=Combined.
MG = Maturity group: PS=Early, M= Medium, L=Late maturing.
Su= Sudan grass, FS= Forage sorghum, FS-Hyb.= Forage sorghum Hybrid, Su x Su= Sudangrass x Sudangrass, and SxSu= Sorghumx Sudangrass.

F = Fargo, P=Prosper, C=Combined.