Tillering ability of sorghum varieties

Sieglinger, J.B.; Martin, J.H.

Tillering ability of sorghum varieties

1939

Sieglinger, J.B. | Martin, J.H.

The number of stalks per plant in 105 varieties of sorghum grown at Woodward, Okla., from 1930 to 1937 was determined in rows in which the plants were spaced at two distances, viz., about 7 inches and 36 inches apart. In stalks produced per plant in the 36-inch spacing, the various sorghum groups ranked from the greatest to the least number as follows: Hegari, feterita, sorgo, milo, kaoliang, kafir, and durra. The six-year average number of stalks per plant in 79 varieties was 1.28 in the 7-inch spacing and 2.39 in the 36-inch spacing. Some varieties produced no tillers in certain seasons, but one variety produced an average of 6.8 stalks per plant in the 36-inch spacing in 1936. The rank of the varieties in number of stalks per plant was very similar in the two spacings, except when spacing was not uniform, although varietal differences were smaller in the 7-inch spacing than in the 36-inch spacing. Small variations from the average spacing had little effect on the number of stalks per plant in the kafirs and other varieties that produced few tillers but such variations were important in many varieties that tiller freely. Hegari produced a considerable number of tillers in all seasons and in both spacings. Dwarf Yellow and certain other varieties of milo usually tillered freely, but tillering fluctuated more with environment than in hegari. Differences in tillering appear to account for many of the yield relationships and adaptations that have been observed in sorghum varieties. The proper plant spacing for a variety depends largely upon its tillering ability. Varieties that tiller poorly should be planted relatively thick.

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