Dry weight and nutrient uptake of twenty one sweet sorghum genotypes grown in two separate locations of Turkey

Abstract

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a type of cultivated sorghums and has been recognized widely as potential alternative source of bio-fuel because of its high fermentable sugar content in the stalk. A substantial variation of dry matter (DM) yield and nutrient uptake information is needed for sweet sorghum genotypes under different climatic and soil conditions. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess the genotypic variation irrespective to dry matter yield and nutrient up take of sweet sorghum genotypes (ii) to investigate nitrogen use efficiency of sweet sorghum genotypes. This field study was conducted in Adana and Urfa location of Turkey for one growing season where twenty one sweet sorghum genotypes were used as testing plant that collected from USA. These twenty one genotypes were selected through screening of forty nine genotypes. The experiment was conducted randomized block design with four replications in both locations. Growth parameters, nutrient up take and nitrogen (N) use efficiency was determined for the twenty one sweet sorghum genotypes. Biomass yield exhibited non-significant differences among genotypes. In contrast, significant differences were observed between Adana and Urfa irrespective to biomass yield. The N use efficiency by several sweet genotypes varies from 385 to 836 kg/ha and 282 to 779 kg/ha in Adana and Urfa locations respectively. Sweet sorghum genotypes responded differently to potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) uptake. The K uptake varies 381 to 1472 and 374 to 1405 kg/ha in Adana and Urfa locations respectively. The Ca uptake also varies 115 to 582 and 115 to 424 kg/ha in Adana and Urfa locations respectively. The Mg uptake varies 81 to 300 and 50 to 226 kg/ha in Adana and Urfa locations respectively. Our results suggest that diverse genotypic variation from different geographical regions should be considered from better sweet sorghum production from the collected sweet sorghum varieties. This study concluded that sweet sorghum genotypes may be used to develop new varieties with higher dry matter production and lower nutrient utilization by these genotypes along with the adaptations of several climatic conditions in Turkey.