This study quantifies the energy balance and water requirement for ethanol production from sweet sorghum. The energy balance assessment is important to verify if the system actually achieves a positive net energy balance, while inventory of water requirement provides primary approximation of the water economy of this alternative feedstock. The boundary of the assessment is from the production of the feedstock to the products' end-use (cradle-to-grave). All the balances were based from a 30-M L/yr capacity commercial bioethanol plant that operates for 270 d/yr. The net energy balance of the system was computed by accounting the total energy consumed by the materials and processes in the boundary equated with the total energy produced through the products – power and biofuel. From the assessment, it was verified that the production gains a net energy equivalent to 475,621,789.51MJ/yr or 15.85 MJ/L of ethanol produced. Since the assessment assumed that a new bioethanol facility will be put up, the analysis included the energy invested during this pre-operational period, termed as 'energy debt'. Construction of the whole facility expended a total of 1,127,076,244.75MJ energy or 37.57 MJ/L ethanol. However, because the system gains a net energy, a payback period for the energy invested was computed by dividing the total energy debt by the net energy gain. It was deduced that energy debt can be offset or paid back within 2.37 years of operation. Meanwhile, the total water economy in the construction of the bioethanol plant amounts to 960,453.44 m3. Likewise, the whole operation consumed a total of 12,368,904,260.86 L for a year's operation, which is equivalent to 412.30 L water/L ethanol produced, or 19.45 L/MJ, or 24,541.48 L/T cane processed.

Zea mays L. is less tolerant to drought than Sorghum bicolor L. In the present study, we investigated the response of both plants to drought stress applied under field conditions by withholding water for 10 d. The plant growth in terms of shoot fresh and dry masses was more severely reduced in maize than in sorghum, consistently with reduction of leaf relative water content. Gas exchange was also more inhibited by drought in maize than in sorghum. The water use efficiency (WUE) of maize fluctuated during the day and in response to the drought stress. In contrast, sorghum was able to maintain a largely constant WUE during the day in the well-watered plants as well as in the stressed ones. Studying the expression of four aquaporin genes (PIP1;5, PIP1;6, PIP2;3, and TIP1;2) revealed that PIP1;5 in leaves and PIP2;3 in roots were highly responsive to drought in sorghum but not in maize, where they might have supported a greater water transport. The expression pattern of PIP1;6 suggests its possible role in CO2 transport in control but not droughty leaves of both the plants. TIP1;2 seemed to contribute to water transport in leaves of the control but not droughty plants. We conclude that PIP1;5 and PIP2;3 may have a prominent role in drought tolerance and maintenance of WUE in sorghum plants.

Bakery and pastry products such as cookies are usually produced from wheat flour and as such contribute to high foreign exchange for tropical countries where such cereal is not cultivated. In view of this, we evaluated the engineering economics for the utilization of dried brewers′ spent grain, groundnut cake and sorghum flour in the industrial production of cookies. The production was based on the assumption that the cash flow was uniform over the plant life (i.e. 10 years) with no salvage value. The equipment required for the production process was identified and estimates obtained from equipment manufactures. The production of the cookies was based on constant mass flow rate of 90 packets/min. The effects of uncertainties on cookie production were evaluated by varying the operation days (330, 300 and 250 days) and also by varying the price of some key variables required for the production processes. The results indicate that the capital cost (fixed and working capital) and the annual production cost (APC) were US$1.39×10⁶ and US$10.08×10⁶/year, respectively. The after tax annual revenue was US$1.63×10⁶/yr. The return on investment (ROI), single payback period (SPBP), discounted payback period, gross margin and internal rate of return (IRR) of the plant were 63%, 1.58 years, 2.08 years, 23% and 77.52%, respectively. The result also showed that the production plant is feasible and could be operated for 330, 300 and 250 days. The difference between operation times lies in the profitability, which decreases as the number of days reduces. Based on the result of this analysis, brewers’ spent grain, groundnut cake, and sorghum flour can be utilized in industrial production of cookies with guaranteed profitability.

In the semi-arid areas of Tanzania, yield losses of sorghum [ Sorghum biocolor (L.) Moench] due to Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa) infestations are estimated to be 30–90%. The use of resistant sorghum varieties compatible with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae (FOS), a biocontrol agent of Striga , may supress the weed and enhance the crop productivity. The objective of this study was to screen and select farmer-preferred sorghum genotypes for Sh and Sa resistance and FOS compatibility for resistance breeding under Tanzanian conditions. Sixty sorghum genotypes were evaluated under screen house conditions using Sh- and Sa-infested field soils with controlled seed infestation, with or without inoculation of the sorghum seeds with FOS . Inoculation of sorghum seeds with FOS significantly enhanced sorghum growth and productivity, and supressed Sh and Sa growth and development. There were reductions of 1–4 Sh and Sa plants when sorghum seeds were inoculated with FOS . Overall, we selected 25 promising sorghum lines resistant to Sh and/or Sa , and with FOS compatibility. The selected sorghum lines are valuable genetic resources for the development of Striga management in sorghum through the integrated use of host resistance and FOS inoculation.

In the semi-arid areas of Tanzania, yield losses of sorghum [Sorghum biocolor (L.) Moench] due to Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa) infestations are estimated to be 30–90%. The use of resistant sorghum varieties compatible with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae (FOS), a biocontrol agent of Striga, may supress the weed and enhance the crop productivity. The objective of this study was to screen and select farmer-preferred sorghum genotypes for Sh and Sa resistance and FOS compatibility for resistance breeding under Tanzanian conditions. Sixty sorghum genotypes were evaluated under screen house conditions using Sh- and Sa-infested field soils with controlled seed infestation, with or without inoculation of the sorghum seeds with FOS. Inoculation of sorghum seeds with FOS significantly enhanced sorghum growth and productivity, and supressed Sh and Sa growth and development. There were reductions of 1–4 Sh and Sa plants when sorghum seeds were inoculated with FOS. Overall, we selected 25 promising sorghum lines resistant to Sh and/or Sa, and with FOS compatibility. The selected sorghum lines are valuable genetic resources for the development of Striga management in sorghum through the integrated use of host resistance and FOS inoculation.

The changes in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] proteins during germination and the resultant effects on the physicochemical properties of sorghum flour were studied using non‐germinated grains as a control. Results showed that flour obtained from germinated sorghum grains had lower protein levels, higher protease levels, and higher free amino nitrogen content compared with the control. There was an increase in the albumin and globulin protein fractions and a decrease in kafirin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis indicated that this decrease was the result of a decrease in γ‐kafirins, while microscopy found that a continuous protein network was formed. Following the germination‐associated protein changes, the viscosities of sorghum paste decreased with germination from a peak viscosity value of 1,324 rapid visco units (RVU) down to 727 RVU in white sorghum (WS), and from 1,549 RVU to 1,295 RVU in red sorghum (RS). The hardness of the sorghum gels was significantly enhanced after germination, with WS increasing from 1,640 g to 5,374 g and RS from 970 g to 5,529 g. Thus, the study revealed that germination decreased the viscosity of sorghum paste and increased the strength of sorghum gel by changing the content and structure of sorghum protein, making it possible to design new foods that require thickening and gelling using germinated sorghum. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Germination triggers the protease system of sprouting seeds, leading to the breakdown of proteins into simpler forms that decrease the viscosity of sorghum paste and improve the strength of sorghum gel, allowing the use of germinated sorghum to design new foods that require thickening and gelling.

To solve engineering problems restricting development of China’s sorghum industry in the whole chain, this paper firstly introduces functions of sorghum industry to national economic and social development. Then, it analyzes current situations of engineering research of sorghum industry. Finally, it discusses countermeasures for engineering research of sorghum industrial development. On the basis of current situations, it proposes 7 pertinent countermeasures. (i) Collection and storage of sorghum germplasm resource; (ii) Innovation on germplasm resource for sorghum breeding; (iii) Seed selection for new variety of special sorghum; (iv) Integrated innovation on high yield, high quality and high efficient cultivation technology; (v) Research and development of integrated prevention and control technology for disease, pests and weeds; (vi) Improvement in technological extension service system; (vii) Research of sorghum deep processing and use technology. It is intended to promote rapid, sustainable and healthy development of sorghum industry in China.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sorghums grown with different organic fertilizers on the chemical composition, energy values, and nutrient metabolizability coefficients, as well as their use for feeding slow-growing broilers. Two trials were performed. In the first experiment, 200 21-day-old broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design (CRD), with five treatments and four replicates of 10 birds per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of a control diet and four test diets (sorghum fertilized with crotalaria, sorghum fertilized with millet, sorghum fertilized with humus, and sorghum without fertilization), including sorghum at 30% in the control diet. The apparent metabolizable energy (AME), apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn), metabolizability coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy were evaluated. In trial 2, 200 1-day-old chicks were used in a CRD with five treatments (T1 – control diet with commercial corn, T2 – sorghum fertilized with crotalaria, T3 – sorghum fertilized with millet, T4 – sorghum fertilized with humus, and T5 – sorghum without fertilization) and four replicates of 10 birds per experimental unit. Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and final weight at 28 days were evaluated. The values of AME and AMEn of sorghums fertilized with crotalaria, millet, humus, and sorghum without fertilization were 2894 Kcal kg-1 and 2881 Kcal kg-1; 2736 Kcal kg-1 and 2675 Kcal kg-1; 2727 Kcal kg-1 and 2694 Kcal kg-1; and 2994 Kcal kg-1 and 2959 Kcal kg-1, respectively. The metabolizable coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy were 76.04%, 42.01%, and 75.25% for sorghum fertilized with crotalaria; 77.50%, 50.77%, and 75.95% for sorghum fertilized with millet; 77.62%, 46.39%, and 75.54% for sorghum fertilized with humus; and 75.83%, 39.53%, and 74.71% for sorghum cultivated without fertilization, respectively. The dietary use of sorghum cultivated with different fertilizers did not affect (P > 0.05) weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and final weight. Green manures with crotalaria, millet, and humus (bovine manure) are alternatives that can be used on sorghum crops because they resulted in grains with adequate nutritional composition, energy values, and metabolizable coefficients for slow-growing broilers from 1 to 28 days of age.

BACKGROUND: Heat–moisture treatment (HMT) has been used to modify properties of sorghum starches. However, information is limited on the effects of HMT on the digestibility of starch and the concurrent changes in protein in sorghum flour. The objectives of this research were to identify heat–moisture conditions to increase the resistant starch (RS) content of sorghum flour and investigate changes in sorghum proteins and starch structure. RESULTS: Sorghum flours with different moisture contents (0, 125, 200, and 300 g kg⁻¹ w.b.) were heated at three temperatures (100, 120 and 140 °C) and times (1, 2 and 4 h). HMT of sorghum flour increased its RS level. The flour treated at 200 g kg⁻¹ moisture and 100 °C for 4 h had a high RS content (221 g kg⁻¹ vs. 56 g kg⁻¹ for the untreated flour). Starch was not gelatinized when sorghum flours heated at moisture content of 200 g kg⁻¹ or below. Sorghum protein digestibility and solubility decreased during HMT. The increase in RS of sorghum flour upon HMT was attributed to enhanced amylose–lipid complexes and heat induced structural changes in its protein fraction. CONCLUSION: HMT can be used to increase RS content in sorghum flour without gelatinizing its starch, thereby providing sorghum flour with unique food applications. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry