EVALUATION OF GRAIN SORGHUM VARIETIES

Larry Vasbinder, Cooperator

Anthony Netardus, C.E.A., Author

DeWitt County, 1995, Precinct #3

SUMMARY:

15 varieties of grain sorghum were compared in the DeWitt County variety demonstration under the cooperation of Larry Vasbinder. The highest producing variety was Dekalb DK55 which yielded 6,460 pounds per acre. The average yield of all varieties was 5,573 making this an average to above average year for grain sorghum in DeWitt County.

PURPOSE:

Variety trials are conducted around the state to determine adaptability and production potential in each location. These 15 varieties are compared to presently used varieties to help producers determine potential varieties that will help increase yields thus increasing profit.

PROCEDURE:

Date planted: March 17, 1995

Date harvested: July 20, 1995

Fertilizer: 260 lbs. 18-9-3-2 with 40 lbs.N/acre side dressed on April 16; 1 application of Iron sprayed over top on April 10

Herbicide: 1 pt./acre Atrazine (banded)

Insecticide: 3 lbs./acre Counter

Seeding Rate: 5.8 lbs. seed per acre

Varieties were planted in 3 row plots and were hand harvested.

RESULTS:

Although conditions were dry, there was enough moisture at the right times to produce a good grain sorghum crop in DeWitt County this year.

Dekalb DK55 was the highest yielding variety producing 6,460 pounds per acre. The average of all 15 varieties was 5,573 pounds per acre. There was a difference in yield of 1,400 pounds from top to bottom. At $5.45 per hundred this would show a difference of $76.30 per acre gross income.

CONCLUSION:

Varieties perform differently from location, soil type and conditions within a county and region or part of the state. Variety selection is critical in any farming operation. County demonstrations and the District Standardized tests will give a broader comparison between varieties. Several years of comparing varieties should result in the selection of the most proven varieties.

Table 1

SORGHUM HYBRID EVALUATION

LARRY VASBINDER FARM

DeWitt County, Texas, 1995

Precinct 3

COMPANY	HYBRID	BUSHEL WEIGHT	PERCENT MOIST. .	LBS/ACRE @ 14% MOIST.	* IRON CHLOROSIS RATING
Pioneer	8313	59.3	13.7	5060	2.0
Douglas King	DK790	57.7	13.5	5450	3.0
Hyperformer	HYP71013	59.7	13.5	5337	4.5
Dekalb **	DK55	57.7	14.3	6460	2.5
Northrup King	KS735	58.6	14.1	5139	3.0
Deltapine	DPL1710	58.6	13.5	5358	3.5
Triumph	TR82G	61.0	15.7	5821	4.5
Pogue	AG233	58.3	13.5	6280	3.0
Mycogen	Amigo	58.7	12.6	5697	4.0
Warner	W965E	60.3	14.5	5421	4.5
Asgrow	ASGXP5312	57.3	13.5	5124	4.0
AgriPro	AP9850	61.7	16.1	5679	4.5
Giant	GB57	56.7	15.4	5482	4.5
Cargill	837CA	58.7	13.3	5715	1.5
Dekalb	DK36	60.3	13.9	5661	2.5

* Readings taken by Larry Vasbinder on April 13 (1 = no plants with chlorosis up to 5 = all plants exhibiting chlorosis)

** DK55 that was outside test on land following sorghum produced 5564 lb/acre (14.0% moisture and 60.3 Bu. wt.). The test was on land that had been planted in cotton in 1994.