Research Article
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Effects of Row Spacing on Growth, Yield and Quality Parameters of Sweet Sorghum

Year 2017, Volume: 34 Issue: 1, 229 - 237, 02.05.2017
https://doi.org/10.13002/jafag4215

Abstract

A two-year field experiment was conducted in Thessaly, Central Greece, in order to evaluate the effect of row spacing on several growth and yield parameters of sweet sorghum. In particular, two row spacings were tested: wide row spacing (WRS) at 0.75m and narrow row spacing (NRS) at 0.375m. During the growing period, crop growth in terms of plants’ emergence, plants’ height, panicle appearance, while stalk sugar content, dry biomass and total sugar yield were also evaluated. In addition, plant material was analysed to assess the potential effects of the treatments on stalk quality. The results showed that with the appropriate cultural practices, sweet sorghum can yield over 40 Mg ha-1 of dry matter and over 18 Mg ha-1 of total sugar yield under Greek conditions. Narrow row spacing resulted to higher plant population and productivity in terms of dry matter and total sugar yield (61% and 37% increase, respectively) in the first year, but without any statistical significant difference compared to the wide spacing in the second year. The compositional analysis of the crop samples revealed significant effects of row spacing on water soluble matter, cellulose and hemi-cellulose content revealing a beneficial effect of narrow row spacing on the quality and consequently ethanol production.

References

  • Alexopoulou, E., Kipriotis, E., Zafiris, Ch. and Christou, M. (1998). Adaptability and productivity of sweet sorghum in northern Greece. In Proceedings of the 10th European Conference on Biomass for Energy and Industry, Wurzburg, Germany, 8–11 June, p. 939-942.
  • Amaducci, S., Amaducci, M.T., Benati, R., Venturi, G., (2000). Crop yield and quality parameters of four annual fibre crops (hemp, kenaf, maize and sorghum) in the North of Italy. Ind. Crops Prod. 11, 179–186.
  • Amaducci, S., Monti, A. & Venturi, G. (2004). Non-structural carbohydrates and fibre components in sweet and fibre sorghum as affected by low and normal input techniques. Industrial Crops and Products 20 (1):111-118.
  • Anfinrud, R., Cihacek, L., Johnson, B. L., Ji, Y. and Berti, M. T. (2013). Sorghum and kenaf biomass yield and quality response to nitrogen fertilization in the Northern Great Plains of the USA. Industrial Crops and Products 50:159-165.
  • Broadhead, D. M. and Freeman, K. C. (1980). Stalk and sugar yield of sweet sorghum as affected by spacing. Agronomy Journal 72 (3):523-524.
  • Chynoweth, D. P., Turick, C. E., Owens, J. M., Jerger, D. E. and Peck, M. W. (1993). Biochemical methane potential of biomass and waste feedstock. Biomass and Bioenergy 5(1):95-111.
  • Cifuentes, R., Bressani, R. and Rolz, C. (2014). The potential of sweet sorghum as a source of ethanol and protein. Energy for Sustainable Development 21(1):13-19.
  • Ethredge ,W. J., Ashley, D. A. and Woodruff, J. M. (1988). Row spacing and plant population effects on yield components of soybean. Agronomy Journal 81(6):947-951.
  • Farré, I., Faci, J.M., 2006. Comparative response of maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) to deficit irrigation in a Mediterranean environment. Agric. Water Manag.
  • Gemtos T. A., Galanopoulou, St. and Kavalaris, Chr. (1997). Wheat establishment after cotton with minimal tillage. European Journal of Agronomy 8:137-147.
  • Habyarimana, E., Bonardi, P., Laureti, D., Di Bari, V., Cosentino, S. and Lorenzoni, C. (2004). Multilocational evaluation of biomass sorghum hybrids under two stand densities and variable water supply in Italy. Industrial Crops and Products 20(1):3-9.
  • Kaushik, M. K. and Shaktawat, M. S. (2005). Effect of row spacing, nitrogen and weed control on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of sorghum. Indian Journal of Agronomy 50(2):140-142.
  • Keren R., Meiri, A. and Kalo, Y. (1983). Plant spacing effect on yield of cotton irrigated with saline waters. Plant and Soil 74 (3):461-465.
  • Mahmood, A. and Honermeier, B. (2012). Chemical composition and methane yield of sorghum cultivars with contrasting row spacing. Field Crops Research 128:27-33.
  • Patanè, C., Cavallaro, V. and Cosentino, S. L. (2009). Germination and radicle growth in unprimed and primed seeds of sweet sorghum as affected by reduced water potential in NaCl at different temperatures. Industial Crops and Products 30:1-8.
  • Reddy, B. V. S., Rao, P. S., Kumar, A. A., Reddy, P. S., Rao, P., Sharma, K. K., and Blummel, M. (2009). Sweet sorghum as a biofuel crop: Where are we now? In Sixth Winrock International Workshop on Biofuels, 1-13.
  • Rocateli, A. C., Raper, R. L., Balkcom, K. S., Arriaga, F. J., and Bransby, D. I. (2012). Biomass sorghum production and components under different irrigation/tillage systems for the southeastern U.S. Industrial Crops and Products 36(1):589-598.
  • Rutto, L. K., Xu, Y., Brandt, M., Ren, S. and Kering, M. K. (2013). Juice, ethanol, and grain yield potential of five sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) cultivars. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems 3(2):113-118.
  • Sakellariou-Makrantonaki, M., Papalexis, D., Nakos, N. and Kalavrouziotis, I. K. (2007). Effect of modern irrigation methods on growth and energy production of sweet sorghum (var. Keller) on a dry year in Central Greece. Agriculture Water Management, 90(3):181-189.
  • Sawargaonkar, G., Wani, S., Pavani, E., Reddy, B. and Marimuthu, S. (2013). Nitrogen response and water use efficiency of sweet sorghum cultivars. Field Crops Research 149:245-251.
  • Sluiter, A., Hames, B., Hyman, D., Payne, C., Ruiz, R., Scarlata, C., Sluiter, J., Templeton, D., and Wolfe, J. (2008). Determination of total solids in biomass and total dissolved solids in liquid process samples. Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP), Technical Report NREL/TP-510-42621 Revised January 2008.
  • Sluiter, A., Hames, B., Ruiz, R., Scarlata, C., Sluiter, J., Templeton, D. and Crocker, D. (2012). Determination of structural carbohydrates and lignin in biomass. Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP), Technical Report NREL/TP-510-42618, Revised August 2012.
  • Smith G. A., Bagby M. O., Lewellan R. T., Doney D. L., Moore P. H., Hills F. J., Campbell, L. G., Hogaboam, G. J., Coe, G. E. and Freeman, K. (1987). Evaluation of sweet sorghum for fermentable sugar production potential. Crop Science 27(4), 788-793.
  • Uchino, H., Watanabe, T., Ramu, K., Sahrawat, K. L., Marimuthu, S., Wani, S. P. and Ito, O. (2013). Effects of nitrogen application on sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in the semi-srid tropical zone of India. JARQ, Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly 47(1):65-73.
  • Wight, J. P., Hons, F. M., Storlien, J. O., Provin, T. L., Shahandeh, H. and Wiedenfeld, R. P. (2012). Management effects on bioenergy sorghum growth, yield and nutrient uptake. Biomass and Bioenergy 46:593-604.
  • Wortmann C. S., Liska, A. J., Ferguson, R. B., Lyon, D. J., Klein, R. N. and Dweikat, I. (2010). Dryland performance of sweet sorghum and grain crops for biofuel in Nebraska. Agronomy Journal 102(1):319-326.
Year 2017, Volume: 34 Issue: 1, 229 - 237, 02.05.2017
https://doi.org/10.13002/jafag4215

Abstract

References

  • Alexopoulou, E., Kipriotis, E., Zafiris, Ch. and Christou, M. (1998). Adaptability and productivity of sweet sorghum in northern Greece. In Proceedings of the 10th European Conference on Biomass for Energy and Industry, Wurzburg, Germany, 8–11 June, p. 939-942.
  • Amaducci, S., Amaducci, M.T., Benati, R., Venturi, G., (2000). Crop yield and quality parameters of four annual fibre crops (hemp, kenaf, maize and sorghum) in the North of Italy. Ind. Crops Prod. 11, 179–186.
  • Amaducci, S., Monti, A. & Venturi, G. (2004). Non-structural carbohydrates and fibre components in sweet and fibre sorghum as affected by low and normal input techniques. Industrial Crops and Products 20 (1):111-118.
  • Anfinrud, R., Cihacek, L., Johnson, B. L., Ji, Y. and Berti, M. T. (2013). Sorghum and kenaf biomass yield and quality response to nitrogen fertilization in the Northern Great Plains of the USA. Industrial Crops and Products 50:159-165.
  • Broadhead, D. M. and Freeman, K. C. (1980). Stalk and sugar yield of sweet sorghum as affected by spacing. Agronomy Journal 72 (3):523-524.
  • Chynoweth, D. P., Turick, C. E., Owens, J. M., Jerger, D. E. and Peck, M. W. (1993). Biochemical methane potential of biomass and waste feedstock. Biomass and Bioenergy 5(1):95-111.
  • Cifuentes, R., Bressani, R. and Rolz, C. (2014). The potential of sweet sorghum as a source of ethanol and protein. Energy for Sustainable Development 21(1):13-19.
  • Ethredge ,W. J., Ashley, D. A. and Woodruff, J. M. (1988). Row spacing and plant population effects on yield components of soybean. Agronomy Journal 81(6):947-951.
  • Farré, I., Faci, J.M., 2006. Comparative response of maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) to deficit irrigation in a Mediterranean environment. Agric. Water Manag.
  • Gemtos T. A., Galanopoulou, St. and Kavalaris, Chr. (1997). Wheat establishment after cotton with minimal tillage. European Journal of Agronomy 8:137-147.
  • Habyarimana, E., Bonardi, P., Laureti, D., Di Bari, V., Cosentino, S. and Lorenzoni, C. (2004). Multilocational evaluation of biomass sorghum hybrids under two stand densities and variable water supply in Italy. Industrial Crops and Products 20(1):3-9.
  • Kaushik, M. K. and Shaktawat, M. S. (2005). Effect of row spacing, nitrogen and weed control on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of sorghum. Indian Journal of Agronomy 50(2):140-142.
  • Keren R., Meiri, A. and Kalo, Y. (1983). Plant spacing effect on yield of cotton irrigated with saline waters. Plant and Soil 74 (3):461-465.
  • Mahmood, A. and Honermeier, B. (2012). Chemical composition and methane yield of sorghum cultivars with contrasting row spacing. Field Crops Research 128:27-33.
  • Patanè, C., Cavallaro, V. and Cosentino, S. L. (2009). Germination and radicle growth in unprimed and primed seeds of sweet sorghum as affected by reduced water potential in NaCl at different temperatures. Industial Crops and Products 30:1-8.
  • Reddy, B. V. S., Rao, P. S., Kumar, A. A., Reddy, P. S., Rao, P., Sharma, K. K., and Blummel, M. (2009). Sweet sorghum as a biofuel crop: Where are we now? In Sixth Winrock International Workshop on Biofuels, 1-13.
  • Rocateli, A. C., Raper, R. L., Balkcom, K. S., Arriaga, F. J., and Bransby, D. I. (2012). Biomass sorghum production and components under different irrigation/tillage systems for the southeastern U.S. Industrial Crops and Products 36(1):589-598.
  • Rutto, L. K., Xu, Y., Brandt, M., Ren, S. and Kering, M. K. (2013). Juice, ethanol, and grain yield potential of five sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) cultivars. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems 3(2):113-118.
  • Sakellariou-Makrantonaki, M., Papalexis, D., Nakos, N. and Kalavrouziotis, I. K. (2007). Effect of modern irrigation methods on growth and energy production of sweet sorghum (var. Keller) on a dry year in Central Greece. Agriculture Water Management, 90(3):181-189.
  • Sawargaonkar, G., Wani, S., Pavani, E., Reddy, B. and Marimuthu, S. (2013). Nitrogen response and water use efficiency of sweet sorghum cultivars. Field Crops Research 149:245-251.
  • Sluiter, A., Hames, B., Hyman, D., Payne, C., Ruiz, R., Scarlata, C., Sluiter, J., Templeton, D., and Wolfe, J. (2008). Determination of total solids in biomass and total dissolved solids in liquid process samples. Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP), Technical Report NREL/TP-510-42621 Revised January 2008.
  • Sluiter, A., Hames, B., Ruiz, R., Scarlata, C., Sluiter, J., Templeton, D. and Crocker, D. (2012). Determination of structural carbohydrates and lignin in biomass. Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP), Technical Report NREL/TP-510-42618, Revised August 2012.
  • Smith G. A., Bagby M. O., Lewellan R. T., Doney D. L., Moore P. H., Hills F. J., Campbell, L. G., Hogaboam, G. J., Coe, G. E. and Freeman, K. (1987). Evaluation of sweet sorghum for fermentable sugar production potential. Crop Science 27(4), 788-793.
  • Uchino, H., Watanabe, T., Ramu, K., Sahrawat, K. L., Marimuthu, S., Wani, S. P. and Ito, O. (2013). Effects of nitrogen application on sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in the semi-srid tropical zone of India. JARQ, Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly 47(1):65-73.
  • Wight, J. P., Hons, F. M., Storlien, J. O., Provin, T. L., Shahandeh, H. and Wiedenfeld, R. P. (2012). Management effects on bioenergy sorghum growth, yield and nutrient uptake. Biomass and Bioenergy 46:593-604.
  • Wortmann C. S., Liska, A. J., Ferguson, R. B., Lyon, D. J., Klein, R. N. and Dweikat, I. (2010). Dryland performance of sweet sorghum and grain crops for biofuel in Nebraska. Agronomy Journal 102(1):319-326.
There are 26 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Chris Cavalarıs This is me

Publication Date May 2, 2017
Published in Issue Year 2017 Volume: 34 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Cavalarıs, C. (2017). Effects of Row Spacing on Growth, Yield and Quality Parameters of Sweet Sorghum. Journal of Agricultural Faculty of Gaziosmanpaşa University (JAFAG), 34(1), 229-237. https://doi.org/10.13002/jafag4215