630.7 Il6b no. 673 cop. 8 UNIVERSITY OF AT Mi N ,' URBAN AGRICULTURE .0 7 IVERs 'TYOF,LL,/v AGRICULTURE Ll iiV^*^ Grain and Forage Sorghums I960 PERFORMANCE IN ILLINOIS By C. N. Hittle, G. E. McKibben, D. R. Browning, L. E. Klindworth, and P. W. Watkins Bulletin 673 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION THIS BULLETIN REPORTS the results of Illinois perform- ance tests on sorghums, both grain and forage. The report on grain sorghums begins on page 3 and includes 1960 results and three- and five-year summaries. Forage sorghums, beginning on page 16, include the annual re- sults for 1960, as well as sum- maries. The tests were conducted at the locations shown on the map at right. L!JI~I ii \ The authors of this bulletin are C. N. Hittle, Associate Professor of Plant Breeding; G. E. McKibben, Associate Professor of Agricultural Research and Extension; D. R. Browning, Research Associate in Agronomy; L. E. Klindworth, Assistant in Agronomy; and P. W. Watkins, Assistant in Agronomy. Thanks are due to W. C. Jacob and R. D. Seif for processing the data and to O. W. Pile, J. P. Mitchell, and M. R. Swanson for their help in planting, harvesting, and threshing, and in summarizing the data. Acknowledgment is also due the Smith Seed Company, Tolono, and the DeKalb Agricultural Association, Tuscola, for furnishing drying facilities for the grain sorghum. Thanks are also due H. J. Schultz and Robert Schultz, Champaign, and Arno Hahn, Havana, for their assistance in the tests and to R. W. Harms for furnishing most of the weather data. For general information about grain sorghums for Illinois farmers, see Circular 774, "Grain Sorghums in Illinois." Urbana, Illinois June, 1961 Publications in the bulletin series report the results of investigations made or sponsored by the Experiment Station ,10, GRAIN SORGHUMS Extensive testing of grain sorghum hybrids and varieties was started in Illinois in 1956. While grain sorghums may not be of great economic importance to Illinois farmers at the present time, the de- velopment of new hybrids, new cultural practices, and artificial drying facilities make grain sorghum a crop with great potentialities. Being drouth resistant, the crop does well on drouthy, sandy soils and on poorly drained and drouthy claypan soils. Some of the new hybrids compare favorably in yield with corn, even on deep, well-drained soils with a high production potential. Future hybrid combinations may compete directly with corn under conditions favorable for maximum corn production. Grain sorghum hybrids have consistently outyielded grain sorghum varieties by 21 percent in 1956, by 26 percent in 1957, by 40 percent in 1958, by 44 percent in 1959, and by 25 percent in 1960. The 1960 grain sorghum tests were conducted at five locations (Table 1). Twenty-two commercial hybrids, 12 experiment station hybrids, and 8 standard varieties were tested (Table 2). The tests were supported in part by an entry fee for each commercial entry. Detailed results of the 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959 grain sorghum trials were reported in mimeographs AG1738 and AG1785 and in Station Bulletins 643 and 659, respectively. Growing Conditions Growing conditions varied widely from one location to another over the state in 1960. At some locations rainfall was above average while at other locations it was considerably below average (Table 3). Rain- fall in Champaign, Mason, and Fayette counties was from 2.4 to 2.8 inches above average in June during stand establishment. In Pope and Jackson counties, rainfall was slightly below average during June. Good stands were obtained at all locations. Even though there was a moisture deficit in Champaign county in July, August, and September, the above-normal rainfall in June pro- vided sufficient moisture for adequate yields, where grain sorghums averaged 99 bushels per acre in 1960 as compared with 88 bushels in 1959. Mason county had considerably more rain than normal, and sorghums averaged 77 bushels in 1960 as compared with 36 bushels in 1959. In Pope county there was an over-all deficit of 6 inches during the 6-month period (May to October), and the 1960 average yield of 77 bushels per acre was lower than the 1959 yield but higher than the previous three-year average. Weather conditions were favorable for harvesting grain sorghum in 1960, and most of the grain could have been stored safely without BULLETIN No. 673 [June, a * ! 2 - n 7 ^ 1 5 5 55- V ~ I O M M Cl 00 00 ^2 C N 5 e J i ^ 1 a a a si tj 2tj (S Sz^Ocn fl tf rt c/5000 CO M MMMCP B M M P P 1 H i! S c e c c _o * ' e s c - - 8B'- Bt _C ,O JO - M'" g _O | _O -O -O -O ' ^ E 3 3 -g li 1^ 1^ 'g^5^ u 2 o -5 l^E^ ^S ^2 cS sS o2i2 C^4>fS^ NCi W ^ 9 W 9 *9 "c to c t e oo ?! u 4> 2 o ^c ' rt c Q.3 00 N O> ^* X 8 t t E e l_ ex O ?! ^ ^ 4 3 ^ >^ ^ ^ ^ 2 u c wT rf ^ >. 'o .S o Is 1 Q - *- 2 c 5 3 '3 o c 2 *a H 1 t s i^"8* ^ ^ ssl * B & b |> 3 ^ > ^ sl.3 ampaign < Sf J3 O o CO H CO V C e . oi ORMA S 1 a E S. - 1 J c c *-^ a u . O ~ ghum trial i cooperati to c a s ~ c L* - - c o 2 i i S rt u &/ C C C X ^ 3 . O C3 m C C >. J= j; S 5 c ,j (t, Q u w CA : M< o oi 2 - ~ J. " - S w "3 I 2 1 > z s ll| P O 1 < i | vS ? >..o ^ E c 4; 2. * ^ - 5 v S"2 gs g. "v E & E K S |"rt ' 1 W * 1 K W ^ 9 & J K s apart <> ersity anc o> 3 H ' * ^ c a < 55 -= c c > | JO I?fl*i I s Sill' 8 ! 11 a s > ~- a E t/j 1 Isf II 1 S! 15 SI <. SEE af^u < i a ou S^ z < uo (5c !! = Il .1 B >> at) B o. 2 i u c s n s | !|| "5 t i o 1^*1 1961} SORGHUM PERFORMANCE TESTS 5 Table 2. ENTRIES: 1960 Grain Sorghum Trials Hybrid or variety Entered by Grain sorghum varieties Plainsman, Redbine 60. Midland, Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station Norghum. Combine 7078. Blackwell Kafir. Martin. Westland Grain sorghum hybrids Texas 611, Texas 620, Texas 660 Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (seed furnished by Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Substation No. 12) RS 501. RS 590. RS 608, RS 610. RS 650. Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (seed furnished RS 661 by Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station) K.S 602, KS 603. KS 701 Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (seed furnished by Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station) P.A.G. 515 S. P.A.G. 605 S. P.A.G. Pfister Associated Growers, Inc. 625 S, P.A.G. Ex. 3153 S DeKalb C-44a. DeKalb C-45, DeKalb K- DeKalb Agricultural Association, Inc. 56a. DeKalb F-62a, DeKalb F-63 Frontier 400-C. Frontier 400-E, Frontier Frontier Hybrids, Inc. 400-F, Frontier 410-C. Frontier 410-E NK 120 (x3000). NK 135. NK 140. NK Northrup. King and Company 210. NK 310. NK x3012. NK x3025 Ainsworth X-8 Ainsworth Seed Company artificial drying. However, sorghum producers should plan to dry the grain artificially since in many seasons it will not be sufficiently dry to store directly from the field. Planting and Harvesting The experimental design used for the Champaign, Pope, and Jack- son county trials was a randomized complete block with four replica- tions. In Fayette county a randomized complete block with three replications was used, and in Mason county a 6 x 7 rectangular lat- tice design with three replications was used. All trials were planted with a hand seeder at the rate of 8 viable seeds per foot. Stands were not thinned. Sorghum heads were har- vested by hand. Except at the Pope county test, heads from each plot were dried artificially to approximately 10 to 12 percent moisture, threshed by a Vogel nursery thresher, and cleaned by a fan. In the trial in Pope county, heads were threshed without artificial drying and averaged 16 percent moisture at harvest. Trials in Mason, Fayette, Jackson, and Pope counties were planted in 40-inch rows, while the trial in Champaign county was seeded in 20-inch rows. Results Data for 1960 and summaries for 1958 through 1960 and 1956 through 1960 are presented in Tables 4 through 8. Three- and five- year averages are, of course, more reliable than results for only one BULLETIN No. 673 [June, Table 3. RAINFALL DATA: Weather Stations Near or at Locations of Grain and Forage Sorghum Trials Weather station location Precipitation Year May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Six- month total in. in. in. in. in. in. in. Northern Illinois 1960 4.36 4.24 4.05 4.33 2.20 3.17 22.35 Experiment Field Longtime av. 4.09 4.23 3.16 3.61 3.80 2.87 21.76 (DeKalb county) Urbana (Champaign 1960 4.15 6.25 2.75 1.31 2.80 2.30 19.56 county) Longtime av. 4.15 3.85 3.09 3.36 3.27 2.52 20.24 Havana (Mason 1960 5.82 6.74 4.55 6.49 2.32 1.56 27.48 county) Longtime av. 3.94 3.92 3.75 3.00 3.98 2.34 20.93 Brownstown Ex- 1960 6.07 7.36 .93 2.04 .35 2.95 19.70 periment Field Longtime av. 4.54 4.52 3.05 3.53 3.29 3.02 21.95 (Fayette county) Carbondale, Agron- 1960 4.10 4.10 1.15 3.83 .88 2.25 16.31 omy Research Center Longtime av. 4.52 4.37 3.10 4.21 4.01 3.67 23.88 (Jackson county) Dixon Springs 1960 3.51 3.66 3.02 1.42 1.84 2.02 15.47 Experiment Station Longtime av. 4.06 4.08 3.40 3.48 3.44 3.07 21.53 (Pope county) Longtime state av. 4.08 3.91 3.25 3.31 3.73 2.54 20.82 year. The fact that an entry does not appear in the summary, how- ever, does not mean it is inferior; its absence merely indicates that it was not tested for all seasons. Grain yields. All yields were adjusted to 13 percent moisture and 56 pounds per bushel. Average yields for sorghum hybrids in 1960 at all locations aver- aged 25 percent above those for the varieties. Corn entries were not included in the grain sorghum performance tests, and therefore no direct comparison of yield of grain sorghum and corn can be made. However, in the Champaign county corn performance test on com- parable soil type, corn hybrids averaged 106 bushels per acre, compared with 103 bushels per acre for all grain sorghum hybrids. In Champaign county 11 of the same hybrids and varieties that were grown in 20-inch rows from which data are reported in Table 4 were also grown in 40-inch rows in another experiment. The 1960 yields of these varieties grown at both row spacings were very similar with a slight advantage for the 20-inch rows. The heads of plants grown in 20-inch rows were much smaller but had greater head exsertion, and, on an acre basis there were approximately twice as many heads from 20-inch rows as from 40-inch rows. In the Jackson county trial, three entries Texas 611, KS 701, and RS 501 were damaged considerably by birds, which reduced their grain yields. With present cultural practices and hybrids, sorghums are not ex- 1961] SORGHUM PERFORMANCE TESTS 7 pected to outyield corn hybrids under conditions favorable for corn. The advantage for sorghum is more likely to be shown on drouthy soils, such as sands and claypans, under conditions when late planting is necessary, perhaps in years of excessive rainfall, and on soils where the fertility level (especially for nitrogen) might limit corn yields. Silage yields. Grain sorghums can be made into silage, and results from the feeding of such silage are usually favorable. The grain sorghums can be expected to yield less tonnage than forage sorghums, and stalks of grain sorghums are neither as sweet nor as juicy as those of forage sorghums. The grain sorghums, however, are likely to have a higher grain component than the forage sorghums, unless a high grain-yielding hybrid forage sorghum is used. For the past five years at Dixon Springs, grain sorghums averaged 11.2 tons of silage per acre, while forage sorghums averaged 16.0 tons and corn averaged 14.4 tons. Silage yields from grain sorghums were exceptionally high in 1960, averaging 13.9 tons per acre with some hybrids yielding 18 tons. The 13.9 tons of silage made from grain sorghum contained an average of 77 bushels of grain, while the 18.2 tons of silage made from forage sorghum at Dixon Springs contained an average of only 44 bushels of grain. Maturity. A good indication of relative maturity of the different entries is the number of days to bloom, considered to be when 50 per- cent of each head of the majority of heads has flowered. In Champaign county in 1960 the average number of days to bloom of the hybrids was 74 compared with 76 for the varieties. There was a difference of 18 days between the earliest and the latest entry. NK 120 (x3000) bloomed in 62 days while DeKalb F-63, P.A.G. 625 S, NK 310, KS 701, and Plainsman required 80 to 82 days. Test weight. Test weight, or pounds per bushel, is one of the qual- ity factors used in determining the grade assigned in commercial grain marketing. Entries in these trials did not differ greatly in test weight. Head exsertion. Head exsertion is the distance from the top leaf (flag leaf) to the base of the head. Sorghums with heads that are well exserted are more easily harvested because less plant material passes through the combine. In Champaign county, head exsertion of most hybrids averaged about 8 inches while head exsertion of the varieties was slightly less. In Jackson county, head exsertion averaged 4 and 3 inches for hybrids and varieties, respectively. Head length. Measurements were taken in the Champaign county test and averaged 8 inches. Differences were small, and there was no apparent association of head length and other characteristics. Lodging. Plants were considered lodged when inclined more than 45 degrees. In the 1960 grain sorghum trials, lodging was rare. Since 8 BULLETIN No. 673 [June, there were few important differences among entries, the data are not reported here. Blackwell Kafir lodged some in most trials. Height. Height is measured from the ground level to the top of the plant. Shorter varieties and hybrids are easier to combine. In the 1960 trials in Champaign county, if Blackwell Kafir is excluded, entries ranged from 36 to 57 inches in height; in Mason county from 43 to 64 inches; in Pope county from 42 to 73 inches; and in Jackson county from 33 to 48 inches. Blackwell Kafir measured 70, 74, and 87 inches in Champaign, Mason, and Pope counties, respectively. This variety is too tall for an acceptable grain sorghum variety. Number of heads per plot. The heads were counted only from that part of the plot which was harvested. This information provides a rough estimate of stand since but little tillering or secondary head production was observed in 1960. If it is assumed that each head was from a separate plant, then, based on the planting rate of 8 viable seeds per foot, the percent of emergence was 75 percent for the Champaign field, 80 percent for the Mason field, 72 percent for the Fayette field, and 74 percent for the Pope county field. This resulted in a plant population of about 6 plants per foot, or 79,000 plants per acre when 40-inch rows were used and 158,000 plants in 20-inch rows. Seedling vigor. The lack of seedling vigor is one of the criticisms of grain sorghum, and more attention should be given to this charac- teristic. The hybrids exhibited considerably more seedling vigor than the varieties, and there was much variation among hybrids. Head type. Heads of sorghum hybrids and varieties varied from being compact to open or loose. Open-headed types were formerly thought to dry more rapidly than compact types. Experimental results here and at other stations indicate that this is not necessarily true. Uniformity. In Champaign county, the entries were rated for uni- formity and were found to be quite variable. There was no apparent association between uniformity and yield. Interpreting Differences in the Tables Entries are ranked in the order of yield, but it should be remem- bered that small differences do not necessarily indicate that one hybrid or variety is inherently superior to another. Interpretation of the data and comparison of the entries may be made more meaningful by use of the "difference necessary for significance" appearing at the bottom of each table. These differences have been computed by the "Multiple Range Test." 1 To compare the yield of two entries, all entries must 'Duncan, D. B., "Multiple Range and Multiple F Tests." Biometrics 11, (l):l-43. 1955. 1961} SORGHUM PERFORMANCE TESTS be listed in order of their performance (as they appear in the tables). To determine the number in the range, count the entries being com- pared plus the number between these two and use the corresponding difference necessary for significance. For characters other than yield, only the difference for the highest number in the range has been com- puted. This difference can be safely used to compare any two entries even though they are not listed in order for a particular character. Table 4. GRAIN SORGHUMS: East-Central Illinois, Champaign County Rank Hybrid in or yield variety Yield T . at . 13 % weight moisture w Number of heads per plot S ? DeKalb E-56a . 83 55 197 2.5 45 7 9 76 4 3 J7 DeKalbC-45 80 54 185 2.5 41 5 8 75 4 2 38 Westland 77 59 155 3.0 40 6 8 79 2 2 39 Ainsworth X-8 77 53 171 3.8 41 6 8 74 2 4 40 Norghum 74 57 162 4.0 47 6 8 65 4 2 (Table is concluded on next page) Seedling vigor ratings are on a scale from 1 (most vigorous) to 9 (least vigorous). b Head type ratings are on a scale from 1 (compact) to 5 (open). Uniformity ratings are on a scale from 1 (extremely uniform) to 5 (very irregular). 10 BULLETIN No. 673 Table 4. East-Central Illinois concluded Rank Hybrid Yield TM , /" or at . 13 % weight yield variety moisture Number Seedling m .._. of heads vigor on /J? per plot June 26- helght Head TJ..-J Days u-_.i Y,_. in or at 13% V*? of heads vigor on ? yield variety moisture welght per plot June 23 helght bit/acre Ib. rating in. 1960 RESULTS 1 P.A.G. 515 S . 93 57 171 3.7 58 2 NKx3025 91 56 178 3.3 46 3 NK210 91 58 193 3.7 58 4 RS610 90 57 225 2.6 58 5 P.A.G. 605 S 88 57 150 3.3 56 6 KS 603 (Kans.) 86 58 168 3.3 62 7 Texas 660 .84 58 166 3.7 53 8 RS590 83 58 192 3.0 54 9 NK 120 (x3000) 83 58 224 2.7 51 10 RS650 83 57 173 4.0 47 11 Texas 620 82 58 184 4.0 55 12 Blackwell Kafir 82 58 176 4.3 74 13 P.A.G. 625 S . 81 57 225 3.0 52 14 RS 661 81 57 206 3.0 58 15 RS608 80 57 197 3.7 54 16 P.A.G. Ex. 3153 S 79 57 179 2.7 54 17 Texas611 77 58 164 4.0 56 18 NK310 77 57 237 2.7 61 19 RS501.. 76 58 196 2.8 64 20 NK 135 74 58 212 3.0 60 21 Combine 7078 74 56 162 5.0 45 22 DeKalbC-44a 73 55 246 3.3 48 23 Redbine60 73 57 145 3.7 50 24 DeKalbC-45 72 58 167 3.3 44 25 DeKalbF-62a 71 57 211 4.0 52 26 NKx3012 71 56 221 2.7 51 27 Ainsworth X-8 71 54 195 2.7 53 28 KS701(Kans.) 68 57 250 3.3 55 29 NK 140 68 57 242 2.7 50 30 Westland 67 58 175 4.3 43 31 Midland... .66 57 171 3.7 53 32 DeKalb F-63 65 57 249 2.7 57 33 DeKalb E-56a 65 57 193 2.7 53 34 KS 602 (Kans.) 65 57 273 2.3 50 35 Norghum 61 58 134 6.0 47 36 Martin 61 58 132 4.3 48 37 Plainsman 61 54 155 5.3 44 Av. all sorghums . 77 57 193 3.4 54 Av. 29 sorghum hybrids 79 57 196 3.3 55 Av. 8 sorghum varieties 70 57 180 4.0 50 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 17 3-5 18 6-10 20 Over 10 20 2 56 1.4 7 SUMMARY: 1958-1960 AVERAGES 1 P.A.G. 515 S... . 61 56 46 2 RS610 60 56 50 3 RS650 59 56 42 4 Texas 620 59 57 48 5 RS590 58 57 48 6 RS 608 54 55 44 7 Texas 660 52 57 47 8 NK 120 (x3000) 52 55 47 9 Texas 611 50 54 50 10 DeKalb E-56a 48 56 47 11 NK 140 47 57 47 12 NK 135 45 55 53 13 DeKalb C-44a 44 54 42 14 Combine 7078 43 55 36 15 Plainsman 40 54 39 16 Redbine 60 40 56 42 Av. 13 sorghum hybrids 53 56 47 Av. 3 sorghum varieties 41 55 39 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 9 3-5 11 OverS 11 N.S. 5 NOTE: "N.S." in this table and following tables indicates that differences are not great enough to be statistically significant. Seedling vigor ratings are on a scale from 1 (most vigorous) to 9 (least vigorous). 12 BULLETIN No. 673 [June, Table 6. GRAIN SORGHUMS: South-Central Illinois, Fayette County Rank in yield Hybrid or variety Yield at 13% moisture Test weight Number Seedling of heads vigor on per plot June 23 bit/acre Ib. rating 1960 RESULTS 1 NKx3025 87 54 190 2.0 2 NKx3012 83 55 193 2.0 3 RS590 79 57 193 3.0 4 NK 135 78 59 197 2.0 5 P.A.G. 605 S 75 56 202 2.7 6 RS650 75 56 144 3.0 7 RS501 74 59 176 2.3 8 P.A.G. Ex. 3153 S 73 58 183 2.0 9 NK210 72 55 182 3.0 10 Texas 660 72 56 132 3.8 11 RS610 70 56 161 2.7 12 NK310 70 57 212 2.7 13 NK120(x3000) 68 57 199 3.0 14 NK 140 67 58 200 2.3 15 KS 602 (Kans.) 65 56 172 3.0 16 KS 701 (Kans.) 64 56 196 2.8 17 P.A.G. 515 S 64 55 212 3.0 18 DeKalb E-56a 64 57 198 2.3 19 KS 603 (Kans.) 63 55 155 3.0 20 Texas 611 63 55 151 3.0 21 RS608 62 54 148 3.0 22 Texas 620 62 54 168 3.3 23 Martin 61 56 168 4.0 24 RS661 60 55 174 3.0 25 DeKalb C-44a. ... 59 54 185 3.3 26 Westland 58 55 126 3.3 27 DeKalb F-62a 58 53 195 3.3 28 Redbine60 56 55 141 4.3 29 Norghum 56 57 139 4.0 30 Blackwell Kafir 53 55 136 4.0 31 DeKalb C-45 . 52 54 163 3.3 32 P.A.G. 625 S 52 54 194 3.3 33 Combine 7078 52 53 150 3.3 34 DeKalb F-63 52 53 192 3.0 35 Plainsman 44 54 147 4.0 36 Midland 43 56 131 3.7 Av. all sorghums 65 56 172 3.0 Av. 28 sorghum hybrids 68 56 180 2.8 Av. 8 sorghum varieties 53 55 142 3.8 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 .20 3-5 22 6-10 23 1 1-20 24 Over 20 .25 4 47 1.1 Seedling vigor ratings are on a scale from 1 (most vigorous) to 9 (least vigorous). 1961] SORGHUM PERFORMANCE TESTS 13 Table 7. GRAIN SORGHUMS: Southern Illinois, Jackson County Rank Hybrid in or yield variety Yield at 13% moisture Test weight Stand Seedling vigor on June 29 Plant height Head exser- tion Days to bloom bu/acre Ib. perct. rating in. in. 1960 RESULTS 1 RS610... 114 56 88 3.0 42 S 70 2 NK210 Ill 56 100 3.8 40 4 69 3 P.A.G. 3153 S 103 56 85 3.8 40 5 71 4 DeKalb C-44a 103 55 90 4.0 40 4 71 5 P.A.G. 515 S 103 55 98 3.2 40 4 74 6 KS602 (Kans.) 101 54 92 3.5 43 4 74 7 RS 608 . . , 100 56 90 3.5 38 5 69 8 NKx3025 98 58 89 3.8 38 4 70 9 Frontier 410- E 97 56 81 3.5 37 3 71 10 Frontier 400-C 96 57 94 3.8 40 3 70 11 NKx3012 96 53 88 3.2 42 7 65 12 NK 140 90 57 85 3.5 42 4 68 13 RS661.. 89 56 81 3.8 40 4 71 14 RS590 89 55 89 3.0 44 3 70 15 Texas 620 88 55 76 4.0 43 4 69 16 KS 603 (Kans.) 88 55 70 3.8 42 4 71 1 7 Frontier 400-F 87 53 94 3.5 42 4 70 18 RS650 86 56 84 3.2 38 4 70 19 DeKalb C-45 85 57 88 3.8 34 1 70 20 Westland 84 57 76 3.0 39 4 70 21 Frontier 410-C 82 54 91 4.2 41 5 74 22 DeKalb 62-a 79 55 96 4.0 38 2 72 23 Texas 660 78 55 65 3.8 42 4 69 24 P.A.G. 625 S 77 54 86 3.5 40 4 76 25 DeKalb E-56a... 76 55 92 3.5 38 4 69 26 NK 120 (x3000) 76 55 79 3.8 40 6 62 27 Frontier 400- E 75 56 74 3.2 43 5 72 28 Martin 75 57 75 3.5 40 4 73 29 P.A.G. 605 S 71 53 90 4.2 44 4 74 30 Plainsman 70 53 59 3.5 34 2 72 31 NK135.. 69 58 100 3.5 43 4 65 32 DeKalb F-63 67 53 96 3.2 41 3 72 33 Combine 7078 65 52 70 3.8 33 2 68 34 Texas 611 63 51 64 4.0 42 3 71 35 Norghum 55 57 39 3.5 37 2 66 36 Redbine 60 50 52 42 4.2 41 2 72 37 KS701 (Kans.) 50 52 100 3.2 43 3 76 38 Midland , 46 54 62 4.5 42 4 70 39 RS 501 42 55 94 3.2 48 4 65 Av. all sorghums , 81 55 82 3.6 40 4 70 Av. 32 sorghum hybrids. 85 55 87 3.6 41 4 70 Av. 7 sorghum varieties 64 55 60 3.7 38 3 70 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 23 3-5 25 6-10 27 Over 10 27 3 24 N.S. 5 2 4 1956, 1957 1956. 1957, 1957, SUMMARY* (Averages for 1958, 1958, 1958, years listed) 1960 1960 1960 1960 1 RS610... 84 51 8 67 2 Texas 620 72 53 8 67 3 RS650 72 49 7 67 4 RS590 71 52 7 68 5 DeKalb E-56a 60 48 7 68 6 Martin 60 49 7 71 7 Texas 611 58 54 8 69 8 RS 501 57 60 8 62 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 14 Over 2 16 4 N.S. 2 Seedling vigor ratings are on a scale from 1 (most vigorous) to 9 (least vigorous). 14 BULLETIN No. 673 [June, Table 8. GRAIN SORGHUMS: Southern Illinois, Pope County Rank Hybrid in or yield variety d mot" Num- Test ber of ; weight p|^ s Silage Dry 5:1. Seed- at matter i , ling 70% of silage p * " ls vigor mois- at time of Jr," on ture harvest ' July 9 Plant height Head length plus head exser- tion bu/acre perct. Ib. T/acre perct. rating in. in. 1960 RESULTS 1 NK310.. 104 23 42 94 18.3 32 104 3.5 62 16 2 NK210 99 18 45 102 15.4 34 98 4.2 62 19 3 Frontier 400-C , . 99 17 44 100 15.8 36 104 3.0 64 18 4 NKx3025 96 15 45 108 14.7 38 105 3.2 54 17 5 P.A.G. 515 S 95 20 46 105 18.3 38 98 4.5 63 17 6 RS 610 95 19 45 105 15.5 36 95 3.9 63 18 7 P.A.G. 625 S 91 22 46 111 15.7 34 92 4.8 57 16 8 KS 701 (Kans.) 90 22 49 111 17.5 33 108 4.5 64 16 9 DeKalb C-44a 89 14 40 97 16.0 38 99 4.8 54 16 10 Frontier 410-C 87 15 45 103 14.6 33 104 3.2 61 16 11 P.A.G. 605-S 86 19 48 101 14.0 28 92 4.5 65 18 12 RS 590 84 17 44 100 14.5 35 101 5.0 65 18 13 Texas 660 83 17 40 75 17.2 41 77 5.0 60 17 14 P.A.G. Ex. 3153 S 83 15 46 104 12.2 35 94 3.0 60 19 15 Frontier 400-E 81 16 47 88 15.2 34 90 3.8 63 16 16 NKx3012 81 15 46 92 12.5 32 96 4.2 63 22 17 Texas 620 81 16 46 102 15.2 36 102 5.2 66 18 18 RS608 80 16 45 87 15.3 38 98 5.2 57 18 19 NK140.. 77 14 44 121 14.3 38 113 4.0 57 16 20 DeKalb F-63 77 16 40 100 14.3 33 105 3.8 64 19 21 DeKalb F-62a 75 13 40 98 12.5 34 98 4.8 60 20 22 Blackwell Kafir 74 20 47 90 17.2 30 82 5.0 87 18 23 Combine 7078 74 19 43 93 13.6 34 96 5.0 47 13 24 Texas 611 73 19 45 95 16.3 35 98 4.8 62 17 25 DeKalb C-45... 72 12 41 101 13.8 39 106 4.0 52 16 26 RS 661 71 13 38 111 11.7 31 111 4.5 62 20 27 NK 120 (x3000) 71 15 44 97 12.5 40 112 3.0 59 19 28 NK 135 69 15 47 118 11.9 32 112 3.5 69 21 29 Martin 68 14 45 82 10.6 33 81 5.2 55 18 30 DeKalb E-56a 67 12 37 110 12.2 34 107 4.5 58 18 31 Redbine 60. . 67 14 41 87 10.4 32 75 7.0 57 18 32 RS 501 66 14 43 97 12.6 31 105 3.5 73 20 33 Frontier 400-F 65 17 41 95 11.6 31 88 5.0 55 18 34 RS 650 64 15 39 80 12.8 40 87 4.5 54 16 35 KS 603 (Kans.) 63 16 44 88 14.9 36 95 5.5 65 18 36 Plainsman 61 16 36 64 12.2 32 73 7.2 42 12 37 Norghum 60 16 47 89 9.6 37 75 6.8 53 16 38 Frontier 410-E 55 12 36 108 11.2 36 111 3.5 51 17 39 Midland 54 14 44 87 11.6 31 88 5.8 61 16 40 KS602 (Kans.) 52 15 36 103 13.1 34 94 4.8 55 16 41 Westland 44 13 37 83 10.4 38 87 5.8 47 17 Av. all sorghums 77 16 43 97 13.9 35 96 4.5 60 17 Av. 33 sorghum hybrids. . 80 16 43 100 14.4 35 99 4.2 61 18 Av. 8 sorghum varieties. . 63 16 42 84 12.0 34 82 6.0 56 16 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 19 3-5 21 6-10 23 Over 10 24 4 7 26 5.4 N.S. 19 1.9 5 2 (Table is concluded on next page) ' Seedling vigor ratings are on a scale from 1 (most vigorous) to 9 (least vigorous). 1961] SORGHUM PERFORMANCE TESTS 15 Table 8. Southern Illinois concluded Yield Silage Rank Hybrid at at Plant in or 13% 70% height yield variety mois- mois- ture ture bu/acre T/acre in. SUMMARY: 1958-1960 AVERAGES 1 RS610... 78 12.9 60 2 P.A.G. 515 S 74 14.3 61 3 Texas 660 72 13.0 60 4 RS6O8 69 12.2 56 5 RS590 67 12.1 61 6 DeKalb C-44a 63 11.6 54 7 Texas 620 63 12.4 62 8 RS650 62 10.9 55 9 P.A.G. 605 S 61 12.0 61 10 Texas 611 61 14.0 60 11 RS501 61 10.6 68 12 Combine 7078 59 9.7 47 13 DeKalb E-56a 55 10.2 57 14 Redbine60 49 9.5 56 15 Plainsman 45 9.6 45 16 Midland 41 9.4 58 Av. 12 sorghum hybrids. . 66 12.2 60 Av. 4 sorghum varieties. . 48 9.6 51 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 12 3-5 13 Over 10 14 3.4 5 SUMMARY: 1956-1960 AVERAGES 1 RS610... . 81 12.8 57 2 RS650 66 11.1 53 3 RS501 65 11.6 65 4 RS590 64 12.2 57 5 Texas 620 64 12.7 59 6 Combine 7078 59 10.1 45 7 Texas611 57 12.5 58 8 Redbine60 51 9.8 54 9 Plainsman 50 10.4 44 10 Midland 45 10.8 55 Av. 7 sorghum hybrids. . . 65 11.9 56 Av. 3 sorghum varieties. . 49 10.3 51 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 9 3-5 10 6-10 11 2.3 3 16 BULLETIN No. 673 [June, FORAGE SORGHUMS Forage sorghum performance tests were conducted at five widely separated locations in Illinois in 1956 and 1957 and at four locations in 1958, 1959, and 1960. General information concerning the locations of the 1960 trials is presented in Table 1. Results of the 1956 and 1957 tests were reported in mimeograph AG1798 of the Department of Agronomy. Detailed results of the 1958 and 1959 forage sorghum trials were reported in Station Bulletin 659. The present bulletin presents data for the 1960 tests, as well as three- and five-year summaries. The fact that an entry does not appear in the summary does not mean that it is inferior; its absence merely indicates that it was not tested for all seasons. In the 1960 tests, 11 to 17 hybrids were compared with 10 to 12 varieties and 3 corn hybrids at each location (Table 9). The silage yields of forage sorghum hybrids have averaged about the same as yields of forage sorghum varieties during the five years that tests have been conducted in Illinois. The average yield of corn silage per acre usually has been less than that of forage sorghum. The corn entries, however, usually yield more grain per acre than the forage sorghum entries. Several of the forage hybrids have a definite advantage over the varieties in grain production and compare favorably with corn in this respect. Growing Conditions Growing conditions for 1960 have been discussed previously in this bulletin, and rainfall data for each location are presented in Table 3. Planting and Harvesting The experimental design used for the DeKalb and Champaign county trials was a randomized completed block with three replications. A 5 x 5 semi-balanced lattice square design with three replications was used in Jackson county and a randomized complete block with four replications was used in Pope county. All sorghum plots were planted with a hand seeder in 40-inch rows at the calibrated rate of 8 seeds per foot. Stands were not thinned except for the corn entries, which were thinned to about 20,000 plants per acre. Only those portions of the rows with adequate and uniform stands were harvested for yield. In the trials at DeKalb and Champaign counties, varieties and hybrids were harvested when the grain was in the hard-dough stage. All varieties were harvested in the Jackson county trial on September 20 and 21 and in the Pope county trial on October 10, 11, and 12. 1961] SORGHUM PERFORMANCE TESTS 17 Table 9. ENTRIES: 1960 Forage Sorghum Trials Hybrid or variety Entered by Forage sorghum varieties Norkan, Tracy. Sart, Wiley. Atlas, Sourless Orange, Honey Sorgo (Texas), Hegari. Ellis, Waconia, Med. Dwarf Sumac, Sugar Drip Forage sorghum hybrids DeKalb FS-22. DeKalb SX-11 Frontier S-210. Frontier SOX, Frontier 37X NK 145. NK 300. NK x3058. NK x3059, NKx3065 RS 301 F. RS 610 (Grain) Texas 9910, Texas 9912, Texas 9913. Texas 9915. Texas 9917. Texas 9918 Corn hybrids U.S. 13. AES 702. AES 805, 111. 1421, 111. 1851. 111. 1996, Ind. 851. Ind. 874 Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (seed of most varieties furnished by the Crops Research Division, ARS. USDA) DeKalb Agricultural Association, Inc. Frontier Hybrids, Inc. Northrup, King and Company Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (seed furnished by Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station) Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (seed furnished by Crops Research Division. ARS. USDA) Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station Harvesting at the proper stage is very important. If the grain is allowed to mature past the dough stage, much of it may pass through an animal undigested. Although later harvesting times were sometimes chosen in these trials to facilitate measuring the grain component of each entry, it is suggested that harvesting be started when the grain is in the early-dough stage. This stage is found in sorghum when the upper grains on the heads are beginning to turn color and the grains on the lower part of the head are plump and milky but still green. In most trials the grain component of each entry was measured by cutting off all heads of the harvested silage sample after it was used to determine the silage yield. The heads were then placed in a burlap bag, dried, and threshed by a Vogel nursery thresher. Several entries did not reach the hard-dough stage of maturity before frost and con- sequently either the grain component was not measured or the entries gave low grain yields. Results Data for 1960 and summaries for 1958 through 1960 and 1956 through 1960 are presented in Tables 10, 11, 12, and 13. Silage yields. All silage yields, including corn, were adjusted to 70 percent moisture. On the average the 1960 yields of the forage sorghum hybrids and forage sorghum varieties were very nearly the same. The forage sorghums have consistently outyielded corn in silage per acre, but this difference was not as great in 1960 as in the previous four years. In 1960 in DeKalb, Champaign, and Pope counties, the 18 BULLETIN No. 673 [June, high-yielding forage sorghum produced from 5 to 7 tons per acre more than the best performing corn hybrid. However, in Jackson county the best-performing corn hybrid produced the most silage, and the three corn hybrids averaged 3 tons more per acre than the sorghum entries. The relative performance of hybrids and varieties varied con- siderably at the four locations, and the difference necessary for sig- nificance is quite large ranging from 4.5 to 9 tons per acre. This suggests that it is difficult to test the forage sorghums precisely with the plot size and experimental designs used. It also emphasizes that differential varietal response can be expected from one location to the other. Dry matter of silage at harvest. The optimum range for making desirable silage is from 25 to 35 percent dry matter (65 to 75 percent moisture). The dry matter of the entries in the forage sorghum trials usually was in this range. In the DeKalb county trial, two of the sorgos Tracy and Honey Sorgo were still at 19 percent dry matter (81 percent moisture) when harvested, which is somewhat high in moisture content. The average percentages of dry matter for the forage sorghum entries in the DeKalb, Champaign, Jackson and Pope county trials were 25, 34, 31, and 28, respectively. In Jackson and Pope counties the corn was about 10 percent higher in dry matter than the sorghum entries at harvest. One of the disadvantages some- times given for forage sorghum is that it makes wet silage. However, results of the 1960 trials indicate that when the sorghums are allowed to reach the dough stage, the moisture content is usually sufficiently reduced for making excellent silage. Grain yields. The extremely low yields of the corn hybrids in- cluded in the 1960 forage sorghum trials in Champaign and DeKalb counties were probably a result of the corn plots being surrounded by tall-growing sorghums, which may have prevented normal pollination and seed set. The highest-yielding corn hybrid in the DeKalb forage sorghum trial yielded only 50 bushels per acre, whereas in the corn performance trial at the same location on similar soil type the average yield of all corn hybrids was 105 bushels per acre. Similarly, in the Champaign county trial the average yield of the three corn hybrids was only 75 bushels per acre, as compared with 106 bushels for the average yield of all hybrids in the corn performance trial at this location. In Pope county, grain yields of the corn hybrids in the sorghum trials were excellent (for this location), averaging 71 bushels per acre. The 1960 grain yields of forage sorghum hybrids and varieties ranged from 10 to 105 bushels per acre. The hybrids averaged 62 per- cent more grain than the standard forage sorghum varieties. Grain yields of forage sorghums grown in Jackson county are not reported because of bird damage to some of the entries. 1961} SORGHUM PERFORMANCE TESTS 19 Test weight. The test weight, or pounds per bushel, is one of the quality factors used in determining the grade that is assigned in com- mercial marketing of grain. The entries were quite variable in this characteristic. Test weight of forage sorghums is partly a reflection of maturity and condition of the grain at time of harvest as well as of the physical characteristics of the grain. Varieties which have glumes that do not separate from the kernels during threshing can be expected to have a lower test weight than other varieties. Plant height. Plant height which was taken near harvest time was measured from the ground level to the top of the plant. Plant heights ranged from 65 to 108 inches in Champaign county, 61 to 115 inches in Jackson county, and 76 to 137 inches in Pope county. Heights are not reported from the DeKalb county trial, but the varieties grew to about the same height as they did in Champaign county. Seedling vigor. The hybrids exhibited considerably more seedling vigor than the varieties, and there was much variation among hybrids. Varieties such as Sourless Orange, Honey Sorgo, Sart, Tracy, and Ellis were especially poor in seedling vigor. Many of the commercial hybrids and the Texas hybrids were notably outstanding in seedling vigor. Maturity. A good indicator of relative maturity of forage sorghums is the number of days to bloom. The number of days to bloom is presented for the trials in Champaign and Jackson counties. In central Illinois the difference between the earliest and latest sorghum was 30 days; in southern Illinois it was 37 days. NK 145 was in full bloom 63 days after planting in Champaign and Jackson counties, while Tracy, Wiley, and Honey Sorgo required 92 to 100 days. Sev- eral hybrids mature sufficiently early to be harvested before frost, even in extreme northern Illinois. Lodging. One of the primary requirements of a desirable forage- type sorghum for Illinois is that it should stand well. Most of the forage sorghum varieties and hybrids have demonstrated extreme susceptibility to lodging under conditions of high soil fertility and adequate rainfall. This is aptly demonstrated in the 1960 data. In Jackson county virtually all varieties stood up well; in Champaign county most varieties were extremely susceptible to lodging notable exceptions being DeKalb SX-11, Frontier 37X, and Hegari. Lodging data are not reported from DeKalb county, but at this location lodging was as severe as in Champaign county. Male-fertility restoration. In Champaign county in 1960, 10 heads of each variety were bagged to check for male sterility. Frontier S-210 and RS 301F each had 10 heads 100 percent sterile. Frontier SOX had 8 heads that were 100 percent sterile and the other 2 heads were 20 BULLETIN No. 673 [June, partially sterile. Hybrids that are partly or completely male-sterile are marketed with about 5 percent of the seed being pollinator seed, which furnishes sufficient pollen in the field for normal seed production. Interpreting Differences in the Tables The same procedure for interpreting differences is used as ex- plained previously for grain sorghums. The entries are ranked according to yield of silage per acre. The difference necessary for significance is listed at the bottom of each column. Table 10. FORAGE SORGHUMS: Northern Illinois, DeKalb County R ?f k Hybrid 1 or yiefd varie * Silage at 70% moisture silage at harvest Grain at 13% moisture Test weight Seedling vigor on July 2 T/acre Perct. bu/acre Ib. rating 1960 RESULTS 1 Waconia 23.5 22 14 56 3.3 21 .. .. 3.3 23 .. .. 3.7 26 10 52 4.6 27 67 54 1.7 25 25 54 2.2 28 48 45 1.8 22 23 51 3.5 24 . . . . 1.9 28 39 53 1.9 26 38 58 3.3 24 60 45 2.7 26 43 48 1.4 20 .. .. 2.4 25 45 53 2.1 19 .. .. 3.9 27 36 48 1.5 19 .. .. 2.7 26 54 48 1.8 28 44 49 1.5 24 51 52 2.4 27 50 47 1.2 25 31 48 1.6 26 43 44 1.6 28 43 50 1.5 26 33 42 2.3 21 22 54 3.0 26 30 55 3.6 27 45 45 2.0 28 52 52 4.8 25 39 51 2.6 26 45 49 1.9 23 27 54 3.5 26 32 44 1.7 ference necessary for significance 4 19 8 1.4 Page) 2 Sugar Drip 23.2 3 Sourless Orange 22.4 4 Sart 22.4 5 Texas 9910 22.0 6 RS 301F 21.6 7 Texas 9912 21.5 8 Med. Dwarf Sumac 21.4 9 DeKalb FS-22 20.7 10 NK x3058 20.4 1 1 Norkan 20.4 12 Texas 9915 20.3 13 NK 300 20.3 14 Wiley 19.9 15 Texas 9913 19.9 16 Tracy 19.8 17 NK x3059 19.8 18 Honey Sorgo 19.5 19 Texas 9917 19.5 20 DeKalb SX-1 1 19.1 21 Texas 9918 19.0 22 Corn (AES 702) 18.8 23 NK x3065 18.7 24 Corn (111. 1421) 18.2 25 NK145.. 17.6 26 Corn (111. 1996) 17.5 27 Atlas 16.9 28 Ellis 16.6 29 RS610 16.1 30 Hegari 16.0 Av. all sorghums 19.9 Av. 15 sorghum hybrids. . . 19.8 Av. 12 sorghum varieties... , 20.2 Av. 3 corn hybrids 18.2 Number in range 2 Oil 4 8 3-5 5.3 6-10 5.6 Over 10 5 8 (Table is concluded on next Seedling vigor ratings are on a scale from 1 (most vigorous) to 9 (least vigorous). 1961] SORGHUM PERFORMANCE TESTS 21 Table 10. Northern Illinois concluded R ? nk Hybrid Silage Grain or at 70% at 13% "W variety moisture moisture T/acrt bu/acre SUMMARY: 1958-1960 AVERAGES 1 Tracy 21.9 2 RS301F 21.4 33 3 Sourless Orange 20.9 4 Norkan 19.4 38 5 NK300 18.9 56 6 Atlas 18.4 7 NK145 18.2 62 8 Corn 17.6 49 9 Ellis 17.0 10 Hegari 15.2 59 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 3.3 3-5 3.6 6-10 3.8 N.S. SUMMARY: 1956-1960 AVERAGES 1 Tracy 21.5 2 RS301F 20.8 3 Sourless Orange 20.1 4 Corn 19.2 5 Atlas 18.6 6 Norkan 18.6 7 Ellis 16.6 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 2.6 3-7... 3.0 Table 11. FORAGE SORGHUMS: East-Central Illinois, Champaign County R f nk Hybrid Silage silaee or at 70% variety moisture Dry mat- Grain c-.Hiino ter of at 13% Test ={* silage at mois- weight Sfl harvest ture JU Days to bloom Plant height Lodging T/acre percl. bu/acre Ib. rating in. perct. 1960 RESULTS 1 Sourless Orange 28.1 31 72 59 4.0 88 98 96 2 Texas 9918 27.2 33 105 57 2.6 81 103 98 3 NKx3058 26.6 36 72 59 2.0 69 95 21 4 Frontier SOX 26.4 33 71 58 3.0 78 97 83 5 Wiley 25.2 34 2.7 93 96 59 6 Frontier S-210 25.0 33 32 57 3.3 78 92 88 7 RS301F... 24.3 34 66 57 2.7 73 87 66 8 DeKalbFS-22 24.2 28 64 58 1.3 83 103 99 9 Waconia 24.2 30 41 59 3.3 76 98 63 10 Tracy 23.6 32 4.0 92 91 39 1 1 Honey Sorgo 23.6 29 40 46 3.6 90 84 88 12 NKx3065 23.2 34 90 56 2.0 83 87 94 13 Norkan 23.2 34 75 60 3.0 73 79 28 14 Texas 9915 23.0 31 105 56 2.7 77 83 98 15 Texas 9910 22.6 38 96 56 2.0 78 94 97 16 Texas 9912 22.6 36 104 56 1.7 76 88 98 17 DeKalbSX-11 22.1 32 78 54 2.6 66 108 18 Texas 9913 22.1 37 88 57 2.0 81 87 92 19 NK x3059 21.9 35 83 55 1.4 82 86 96 20 Texas 9917 21.9 37 104 57 2.3 73 82 98 21 Corn (U.S. 13) 21.6 34 90 51 2.3 99 22 NK300 21.2 37 82 57 1.0 74 83 95 23 Atlas 21.2 30 48 58 3.0 81 90 50 24 Sart 21.1 35 37 52 2.7 83 84 76 25 NK 145 20.8 37 81 58 2.0 63 91 33 26 Frontier 37X 20.2 36 62 47 2.0 66 103 4 27 Corn (Ind. 874) 19.6 31 65 49 2.0 93 28 Ellis 17.9 33 52 58 4.0 77 93 76 29 Corn (111. 1996) 15.4 33 69 49 3.3 89 30 Hegari 15.2 37 74 55 3.0 67 65 7 Av. all sorghums 22.9 34 73 56 2.6 78 91 68 Av. 17 sorghum hybrids 23.3 34 81 56 2.2 75 92 74 Av. 10 sorghum varieties 22.3 32 55 56 3.3 82 88 58 Av. 3 corn hybrids 19.0 33 75 50 2.5 94 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2. . 7.6 3-5 8.4 6-10 8.9 Over 10 9.3 9 39 5 .9 2 15 46 SUMMARY: 1958-1960 AVERAGES 1 Sourless Orange 24.0 48 95 97 53 2 Tracy 23.9 97 113 17 3 RS301F 21.4 58 80 91 24 4 NK300 19.6 67 81 76 33 5 Atlas 19.3 44 87 98 27 6 NK 145 18.4 64 70 92 29 7 Norkan 18.0 57 79 85 14 8 Corn 17.0 73 94 9 Hegari 15.3 62 77 67 12 Number in range Difference neces: sary for significance 2 4.4 3-5 4.9 6-9 5.0 N.S. 5 18 N.S. SUMMARY: 1956-1960 AVERAGES 1 Tracy 24.9 115 12 2 Sourless Orange 22.4 99 41 3 RS301F 20.6 93 17 4 Atlas 20.5 101 18 5 Norkan 18.8 88 13 6 Corn 17.2 102 3 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 3.3 3-6 3.7 10 23 Seedling vigor ratings are on a scale from 1 (most vigorous) to 9 (least vigorous). SORGHUM PERFORMANCE TESTS 23 Table 12. FORAGE SORGHUMS: Southern Illinois, Jackson County Rank silage yield Hybrid or variety Silage Dry mat- at 70% ter of niois- silage at ture harvest Seedling Days Stand vigor on to June 30 bloom he ' 8nt Plant Lodg- ing T/acrt perct. perct. rating perct. 1960 RESULTS 1 Corn (111. 1851) 20.7 40 90 ... .. 85 1 2 Sugar Drip 19.4 26 95 4.7 90 115 6 3 DeKalb FS-22 19.0 31 100 3.3 80 95 5 4 Corn (Ind. 851) 18.1 42 83 85 5 Frontier SOX 17.3 30 97 3.7 70 90 6 Sourless Orange 17.1 29 95 6.0 80 91 2 7 Wiley 16.9 25 100 4.7 100 108 4 8 Honey Sorgo 16.9 24 100 6.0 100 103 5 9 Corn (AES 805) 16.9 40 89 73 10 Med. Dwarf Sumac 16.0 31 100 3.7 70 73 11 Frontier S-2 10 16.0 27 100 3.7 73 88 12 NKx3058 16.0 32 100 4.0 70 79 13 DeKalb SX-1 1 .. 16.0 35 100 2.3 70 97 5 14 NKx3059 15.5 29 99 3.3 80 73 15 Waconia 15.4 37 98 3.7 67 80 2 16 NK 145 14.7 36 99 3.7 63 73 3 17 NK300 14.5 33 100 3.7 80 66 18 Frontier 37X 14.5 35 99 3.3 73 89 4 19 NKx3065.. 14.0 29 100 4.0 80 79 20 RS301F 13.9 31 100 3.3 70 75 21 Atlas 13.9 30 96 4.7 77 85 22 Hegari 12.4 33 100 4.3 77 61 23 Ellis 11.9 31 92 4.3 70 77 24 Norkan 11.7 31 97 5.3 70 73 Av. all sorghums... 15.4 31 102 4.1 77 84 2 Av. 11 sorghum hybrids 15.6 32 103 3.5 74 82 2 Av. 10 sorghum varieties 15.1 30 100 4.7 80 87 2 Av. 3 corn hybrids 18.6 41 87 ... .. 81 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 4.5 3-5 5.0 6-10 5.3 Over 10 5.5 4 16 1.4 6 19 5 SUMMARY: 1958-1960 AVERAGES 1 Corn... 17.3 2 Atlas 16.7 81 98 3 3 NK 300 16.6 85 80 3 4 RS301F 16.1 75 87 1 5 Hegari 14.0 78 70 1 6 Norkan 13 .3 76 83 2 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 N.S. 3-6 N.S. N.S. 11 N.S. SUMMARY: 1956-1960 AVERAGES 1 RS301F... 17.6 91 1 2 Atlas 17.4 98 2 3 Corn 16.8 4 Norkan 14.3 86 1 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 . . N.S. 3-4... N.S. 8 3 Seedling vigor ratings are on a scale from 1 (most vigorous) to 9 (least vigorous). 24 BULLETIN No. 673 Table 13. FORAGE SORGHUMS: Southern Illinois, Pope County R ? n nk Hybrid vnricty yield Silage Dry mat- sila _ e at 70% ter of *?*?' mois- silage at *i d ture harvest Grain at 13% mois- ture Test Number weight ^,.^10* Seedling vigor on July 9 Head Plant length height plus head exsertion T/acre perct. bu/acre Ib. in. in. I960 RESULTS 1 Texas 9915 24.2 35 60 77 45 52 4.7 98 15 2 Texas 9912 23.6 35 72 80 35 67 5.0 113 14 3 RS301F 21.1 30 88 25 38 75 5.0 114 15 4 Sourless Orange 20.7 27 89 35 40 74 7.7 121 14 5 Texas 9910 20.5 29 72 78 39 66 5.0 114 16 6 Atlas 20.0 26 91 41 42 80 6.7 120 15 7 Texas 9917 19.9 28 70 86 40 64 5.3 99 14 8 NKx3065 19.8 29 97 62 39 86 5.0 118 15 9 DeKalbFS-22 19.4 26 97 40 46 68 5.3 135 18 10 Tracy 19.4 24 84 15 36 70 7.3 137 18 11 Texas 9913 18.8 29 65 47 38 57 3.0 136 15 12 NKx3059 18.8 27 67 48 37 57 4.7 116 14 13 Wiley. . 18.6 25 78 10 31 64 6.3 136 12 14 Texas 9918 18.6 25 68 61 41 68 4.0 130 15 15 Frontier S-2 10 18.6 28 90 15 35 74 4.7 125 16 16 Honey Sorgo 18.4 19 110 12 23 72 7.0 127 16 17 NK300 18.4 30 99 62 45 74 3.0 111 17 18 Sart 18.2 27 107 32 44 90 6.3 113 15 19 Frontier SOX 18.1 29 109 31 37 91 4.3 116 17 20 Waconia 17.7 29 73 33 46 74 7.0 128 16 21 Corn (Ind. 851) 17.0 38 22 84 46 21 5.0 118 18 22 Norkan 16.8 32 68 40 45 66 7.0 105 16 23 Corn (111. 1851) 16.1 35 23 62 50 22 5.0 126 20 24 NKx3058 15.4 24 88 41 46 78 3.0 118 16 25 Corn (AES 805) 14.8 40 24 67 50 24 5.0 112 19 26 Ellis 14.2 30 66 35 42 72 6.3 115 18 27 DeKalbSX-11 ... 14.0 34 83 48 35 84 4.7 132 20 28 NK145 12.7 29 91 53 45 86 4.7 103 17 29 Hegari 12.4 30 63 54 46 73 7.3 76 12 30 Frontier 37X 12.3 30 109 40 38 76 3.7 128 22 Av. all sorghums 18.2 28 83 44 40 72 5.3 118 16 Av. 17 sorghum hybrids. . 18.5 29 83 52 41 71 4.4 118 16 Av. 10 sorghum varieties. 17.6 27 83 31 40 74 6.9 118 15 Av. 3 corn hybrids 16.0 38 23 71 49 22 5.0 119 19 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 4.5 3-5 5.1 6-10 5.4 11-20 5.6 Over 20 5.7 6 20 19 5 16 1.6 14 4 SUMMARY: 1958-1960 AVERAGES 1 RS301F... 16.4 21 102 2 Atlas 16.0 20 108 3 NIC 300 15.4 48 96 4 Hegari 13.2 47 75 5 Corn 13.0 54 105 6 Norkan 12.9 - 25 96 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 N.S. 3-6 N.S. N.S. 11 SUMMARY: 1956-1960 AVERAGES 1 RS301F... 16.6 101 2 Atlas 15.8 106 3 Corn 13.7 104 4 Norkan 13.1 94 Number in range Difference necessary for significance 2 2.4 3-4 2.5 4 Seedling vigor ratings are on a scale from 1 (most vigorous) to 9 (least vigorous). 7M 6-61 7 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA Q 630.7IL6B C008 BULLETIN URBANA 6731961 30112019530382