Original scientific paper
Properties and productivity of new cultivars of sugar sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench.)
Zvonimir Štafa
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Svetošimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb
Ivan Danjek
Darko Uher
Kruna Čermak-Horbec
Abstract
Sugar sorghum is not significantly spread in Croatia and does not participate in fodder production as much as it should with regard to its value and valuable properties. It is sown in spring and early summer as the second crop in fodder segunce onto the same area and is intended for animal feeding in the course of summer and in early autumn (80 to 100 or more days). It is characterised with large root mass and is more resistant to drought than most fodder crops. New cultivars of sugar sorghum possess more delicate stalks, more leaves, more intensive and faster regeneration, and give two or more cuttings, which may be used for green fodder by cutting, pasturing or ensiling. Three-year research (1992-1994), carried out at the experimental facility at the Department of Field Crops of the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb, involved six sugar sorghum cultivars grown under intensive production conditions for green fodder and silage. Sowing in the middle and second half of May resulted in two cuttings that gave, on average, from 70,01 t/ha (Garst 757) to 85,61 t/ha (S. Sioux) of green mass, and 13,35 (Superdan) to 15,66 (S. Sioux) t/ha of dry matter The largest number of shoots per 1 m2 was recorded for the Superdan cultivars which is therefore the most suitable cultivars for pasturing.
Keywords
sugar sorghum; cultivars; properties; crop yield; quality
Hrčak ID:
93478
URI
Publication date:
12.12.1999.
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