Breeding for dual purpose attributes in sorghum: effect of harvest option and genotype on fodder and grain yields.

Abstract

A study was conducted across different seasons during 2012 to 2013 to investigate the effect of harvest options and genotype on the dual fodder and grain yield in sorghum. The treatments were arranged in split–split plot design with the harvest options assigned to the main plot and the genotypes to the sub plot. The study revealed that performance of dual sorghum genotypes differed across harvest options and seasons. To maximize the benefits gained from dual sorghum genotypes, different harvest options for fodder and grain need to be investigated. When the option is to harvest the main crop as forage and the ratoon as grain crop, the cultivars Abjaro during winter and S.25Abu70 during summer were suggested. If the option is to harvest the grain and stover from the main crop, either Abjaro or S.25Abu70 could be suggested, depending on what is favored by farmers: Earliness of S.25Abu70 or the high stover yield of Abjaro. Key words: Abjaro, Abu Sabein, main crop, ratoon, shambat, Sudangrass, stover.