Grain Sorghum Response to Inundation at Three Growth Stages

Abstract

ABSTRACT DRAINAGE design is often limited by characterizing the crop re-sponse to specific water inputs. This research evaluated grain sorghum re-sponse to inundation periods of twelve days at the early vegetative, early boot, and heading growth stages for grain sorghum. Twelve days of inun-dation at early vegetative growth re-duced the plant stand by 5 percent and yield by 30 percent. Inundation for 12 days at the early boot stage reduced the plant stand by 2 percent and yield by 26 percent. Inundations after grain sorghum heading did not reduce yield. Inundation may cause further yield reduction by physical damage to the crop such as lodging and by increased time to maturity.