A Final Report to the Seed Industry Concerning The Texas Cooperative Extension Lower Gulf Coast Sorghum Hybrid Performance Test Submitted August 25, 2005 Dr. Steve Livingston Professor and Extension Agronomist Texas Cooperative Extension Corpus Christi, Texas
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A Final Report to the Seed IndustryConcerning
The Texas Cooperative ExtensionLower Gulf Coast Sorghum Hybrid Performance
Test
SubmittedAugust 25, 2005
Dr. Steve LivingstonProfessor and Extension Agronomist
Texas Cooperative ExtensionCorpus Christi, Texas
This report is provided through the use of Sorghum PROFIT and Cropping Systems Funding
as allocated to the South Texas Cropping Systems teamfor FY 2001-2005
SOUTH TEXAS CROPPING SYSTEMS TEAM
Steve Livingston Roy ParkerCharles Stichler Larry FalconerJohn Matocha Tom GerikDanny Fromme Jeff StapperMark McFarland Frank Hons
Technicians
Rudy AlanizMike Hiller
Clint Livingston
Table of ContentsTexas sorghum production at a glance 1
South Texas sorghum production, by participating county 2
Overview of the 2005 growing season 3
2005 Lower Gulf Coast Standard Regional Sorghum HybridPerformance Tests, Texas Cooperative Extension, District 10, 11 and 12 Cooperating. 8
Participating seed companies, hybrids entered, and locationcooperators 9
Bee County performance test, Arturo Gaitan Farm 10
Jim Wells County performance test, Jerry Nock Farm 11
Karnes County performance test, Terry Tam Farm 12
Kleberg County performance test, David Schubert Farm 13
Nueces County performance test, Ordner Farms 14
Texas A&M Research and Extension Center performancetest, TAM-CC Meaney Farm Annex 15
Refugio County performance test, Lenhart Brother Farm 16
Refugio County performance test, Venture Farms 17
San Patricio County performance test, Pinkston Farm 18
San Patricio County performance test, Schneider-Porter Farm 19
San Patricio County performance test, TAES Hunt Farm test 20
Wilson County performance test, Raymond and Larry Wiatrek Farm 21
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2,050,000 acres ofsorghum harvested inTexas in 2004
Statewideaverage yield in 2004was 3,472 lbs/A
Focus of thisreport
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South Texas Sorghum ProductionLower Gulf Coast – 2004
Overview of the 2005 Growing SeasonOne of the questions raised when looking at the 2005 sorghum yields by location, is how theLenhart test and Schneider-Porter site could have yields in the 7000-8000 lbs/A range (with theLenhart test receiving only 5.29 inches during the growing season), while the Ordner andPinkston tests barely averaged in the 3900-4300 lbs/A range with 12.31 and 8.39 inches,respectively. The key issue is “when” during the growing season, was the rainfall received. The Pinkston site was underwater two times before planting and a third time when the corn wasabout a foot tall. Because of wet conditions early in the planting season, entire corn fields didnot form the deep root- system that would be needed later, in pulling moisture from the soilprofile.
The time of “peak demand” for water usage by sorghum plants is during the boot and bloomstage of growth. At this time as much as 2.5 - 3 inches can be needed per week. This was alsothe time that there was no rainfall, on the Pinkston, Ordner and TAM-Meaney Annex sites. Those fields made their sorghum crop from moisture stored in the soil profile. The Venture testreceived only 0.13 inches of rainfall during the entire growing season following planting. Thehighest yielding hybrid in the Venture test yielded 6142 lbs/A, and the test average was 5,328lbs/A. Having adequate (but not excessive) water early-season is better than too much waterearly-season. When truly needed, each inch of rainfall can contribute as much as 500-700 lbs/Ain yield when received at boot and early bloom.
A week on either side of February 20th is the peak planting period for sorghum on the extremeLower Gulf Coast. In a three-year study when rainfall was abundant (2004), sorghum lost 38lbs/A yield for every day-of-delay in planting, after February 20th. But because of thedistribution of favorable rainfall in eastern Refugio County (Lenhart), plantings made in lateMarch and early April did quite well. The Lenhart Brothers “farm-average” for the 2005growing season was approximately 6,600 lbs/A sorghum. Here, the highest yielding sorghumhybrid was MSC 531 with 8727.3 lbs/A, and the test average for 20 sorghum hybrids was7,726.6 lbs/A.
Sorghum will wait for rain. If it has the plant structure and leaf area, rainfall received at “bootand bloom” growth stages will help to recover much of the sorghum’s lost yield potential. Whenrainfall is received at boot and bloom, the fuller (later) season sorghums will generally out-yieldthe medium and early-maturity sorghums. When all of the rainfall is received early, or none isreceived after planting, the earliest maturity sorghum hybrids may prevail with the highestyields. For these reasons, a hybrid may look very good or simply run with-the-pack, depending on howthe growing season unfolds and the rains fall. In understanding our South Texas rainfallpatterns, there is “an increase” of one-inch of rainfall received for every 10-miles we move in aneasternly direction. The Lower Gulf Coast Standard Performance Test is “laid-out” so as tofocus geographically on this rainfall belt; however, eastern San Patricio County (Taft) andRefugio County (Austwell/Tivoli) climate could fit just as easily with the rainfall patterns of theUpper Gulf Coast due to their eastern proximity. These counties were not surgically divided(zoned), into two different regional test to comply with rainfall patterns. These counties were
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Figure 5. Season-long (daily) water-use by grain sorghumfrom seedling emergence through maturity and subsequentdrying of the grain.
left intact in order to keep each country from having to draw two separate sets of planting seed (Upper and Lower Gulf Coast).Seed company representatives are limited to a single hybrid entry for the standard sorghum hybrid performance tests. They mustdecide on the maturity group and hybrid strengths, based on what they think the weather and growing season is going to be. In aperfect growing year, a thoroughbred high-yielding sorghum will prevail. In a dry year, a drought-cutter (workhorse) sorghum withgood “post- flowering drought tolerance” and stay-green will “stand” better and produce more grain. The purpose of including asecond hybrid (an “add-on” sorghum hybrid), is to “cover both bases” by entering a shorter- and somewhat fuller-season sorghumhybrid to compensate for both kinds of weather during the pre- and post flowering growth stages of sorghum.
A regional sorghum hybrid performance test is useful in looking at trends in sorghum yields, and also it ensures that one test was not“a fluke” or was not representative of a sorghum hybrid’s performance. If the individual county test was conducted well and under“normal growing conditions”, the individual county test may be a better decision tool than the regional hybrid performance test,because the soil type and depth, rainfall, and performance data fit that specific growing region better than an average.
The impact of Figure 1, is that sorghum uses only 1.2 inches of water during the first 24 days of seedling growth. It uses an additional4.7 inches during the rapid growth stages. Sorghum could use up to 6.5 inches of water during the 10 days the sorghum was booting. Usage during the 10 days of bloom, could require an additional 3.0 inches. Six additional inches might be consumed during grain-fill,for a total of 21.4 inches. Some of this will be drawn from the soil profile and some will come from rainfall received during thegrowing season. It is very important for sorghum to have the water it needs, at the proper time of development.
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Figure 3. Effects of planting date on grain sorghum yields in agrowing season with adequate rainfall from planting to fullmaturity, Texas A&M Meaney Farm Annex, Corpus Christi(2004, Livingston)
If grain sorghum received no additional rainfall following planting on “peak planting dates” (figure 2), sorghum yields will diminishat the rate of 68 lbs/A/day-of-delay, for plantings made between 21 March and into April as long as planting moisture is available. Head exertion and plant height is reduced, seed size and test weight declines, and charcoal rot increases with these conditions.
If adequate soil moisture and rainfall is available season-long (figure 3), sorghum yields will decline at a rate of 35+ lbs/A/day-of-planting-delay. This is primarily due to increasing night time temperatures and more energy being required to support plantrespiration.
Figure 6. Effect of planting date on sorghum grain yields in a yearwhen less than one inch of rainfall was received season-long, TexasA&M Meaney Farm Annex, Corpus Christi, TX (2002, Livingston).
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Figure 5. Sorghum seed size as observed as a result of rainfallreceived at boot and bloom growth stages in a dry productionyear, Texas A&M Meaney Farm Annex, Corpus Christi, Texas(2003, Livingston)
Figure 4. Sorghum yields as effected by planting date in agrowing season where adequate rainfall was received during theboot and bloom growth stage, Texas A&M Meaney Farm Annex,Corpus Christi, Texas (2003, Livingston).
When soil moisture is declining due to lack of rainfall, and rainfall is received at the boot and bloom growth stages (figure 4),sorghum was losing 51 lbs/A/day-of-planting delay from 2/21 to 3/11. Seed size was declining and head exertion was be shortening. When 3.5 inches of rainfall was received from June 5-15, planting dates conducted 3/19 through 4/4 were affected through increasedseed size and test weights (figure 5) and yield increases as high as 738 lbs/A per inch of rainfall received, for the 4/4 planting date.
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Seed company representatives are limited to a single hybrid entry for the standard sorghumhybrid performance tests. They must decide on the maturity group and hybrid strengths, basedon what they think the weather, water and growing season is going to be. In a perfect growingyear, a thoroughbred high-yielding sorghum will prevail. In a dry year, a drought-cutter(workhorse) sorghum with good “post- flowering drought tolerance” and stay-green will “stand”better and produce more grain. The purpose of including a second hybrid (an “add-on” sorghumhybrid), is to “cover both bases” by entering a shorter- and somewhat fuller-season sorghumhybrid to compensate for both kinds of weather during the pre- and post flowering growth stagesof sorghum.
A regional sorghum hybrid performance test is useful in looking at trends in sorghum yields, andalso it ensures that one test was not “a fluke” or was not representative of a sorghum hybrid’sperformance. If the individual county test was conducted well and under “normal growingconditions”, the individual county test may be a better decision tool than the regional hybridperformance test, because the soil type and depth, rainfall, and performance data fit that specificgrowing region better than an average.
Texas A&M Research & Extension Center, 10345 Agnes, Corpus Christi, Texas 78406Hybrids Bee Jim WellsA KarnesA Kleberg NuecesA Nueces Refugio Refugio San PatA San PatA San Pat Wilson
Gaitan Nock Tam Schubert Ordner TAM-CC Lenhart Venture Pinkston Schn-Port Hunt Wiatrek Average
(1) All data adjusted to 14% moisture. All locations were machine harvested strip tests except TAM-CC and San Patricio (Hunt), which were replicated in arandomized complete block design. TAM-CC and Kleberg (Schubert) were hand-harvested.(2) -- denotes lost data or unplanted hybrid. To avoid unfair weighting by location, the mean location average has been used in summarizing regional yields ofindividual hybrids. Locations with an "A" denotes accuracy testing.(3) No standard plots were planted in Brooks, Fayette, Goliad, Gonzales, Lavaca, and Live Oak Counties, due to low row crop acreages or use of local testingarrangements. McNair sorghum test (Nueces County) lost due to drought.(4) Data compiled by Steve Livingston, Agronomy Specialist, in cooperation with County Extension Agents in Coastal Bend Extension Districts 10, 11, and 12,Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 10345 Agnes, Corpus Christi, TX 78406-1412, Ph-361/265-9203.(5) It generally requires 350-500 lbs/ac change in yield for one hybrid to be statistically different from another.(6) Late arrivals of seed/mis-communications affected presence of some entries in this test. Some seed entries arrived too late to be planted in the majority oflocations. See individual county tests for add-on hybrids. Croplan 514, TR 465 and NK 8831 were removed from the test due to being present at less than 50%of locations.
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2005 Lower Gulf Coast Standard Regional Sorghum Hybrid Performance Tests
Texas A&M Research & Extension Center10345 Agnes, Corpus Christi, TX 78406
PARTICIPATING SEED COMPANIES AND HYBRIDS ENTERED IN 2005:
Asgrow Seed Co: A 571B-H Genetics: BH 3822Boomerang: XP 503DeKalb: DKS 37-07Garst Seed Co: 5401Golden Acres: GA 3552NC+ Hybrid Co: NC+ 8R18Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l: 84G62Sorghum Partners: NK 6641Triumph: TRX 44631Warner: W-851-DR
LOCATION COOPERATORS
COUNTY TOWN AGENT PRODUCER
Bee Beeville Donnie Montemayor Aurturo GaitianJim Wells Alice Rogelio Mercado Nock FarmsKarnes Karnes City Dennis Hale Terry TamKleberg Kingsville John Ford David SchubertNueces Robstown Harvey Buehring Ordner Farms
TAMU-CCRefugio Refugio Mike Mauldin Lenhart Brothers
Venture FarmsSan Patricio Sinton Jeff Stapper Pinkston Farm
Schneider-Porter FarmTAES - Hunt
Wilson Floresville Charles Pfluger Raymond & Larry Wiatrek
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Table 1. Grain yields and performance factors for12 sorghum hybrids, Texas CooperativeExtension, Arturo Gaitan Farm, Bee County, Texas, 2005
1 Yield per acre is reported in pounds per acre adjusted to 14% moisture. These yields are alsoadjusted using accuracy testing to compensate for field variations.
1 Yield per acre is reported in pounds per acre adjusted to 14% moisture. These yields are alsoadjusted using accuracy testing to compensate for field variation.
Planting date: 13 March 2005Row width: 38 inchesFertilizer: 350 lbs/A 24-6-2 + 2 ZnHerbicide: 1.5 qt/A Guardsman (preplant)Planting rate: 7 lb/ASoil type: Sandy loamPrevious crop: CornRainfall: Adequate until June 1Harvest date: 11 July 2005
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Table 4. Grain yields and performance factors for 13 sorghum hybrids, Texas CooperativeExtension, David Schubert Farm, Kleberg County, Texas, 2005.
1 Yield per acre is reported in pounds per acre adjusted to 14% moisture. These yields are alsoadjusted using accuracy testing to compensate for field variations.
Planting date: 17 February 2005Row width: 30 inchesFertilizer: 335 lbs/A 25-5-0Herbicide: 0.75 lb/A atrazinePlanting rate: 68,000 plt/ASoil type: Victoria clayPrevious crop: CottonRainfall: 8.39Harvest date: 27 June 2005
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Table 6. Grain yields and performance factors for 14 sorghum hybrids, Texas CooperativeExtension, Texas A&M Research & Extension Center Meaney Farm Annex, Nueces County,Texas, 2005.
1 Yield per acre is reported in pounds per acre adjusted to 14% moisture. These yields are alsoadjusted using accuracy testing to compensate for field variation.
Planting date: 5 April 2005Row width: 40 inchesFertilizer: 100 lbs 92-0-0Herbicide: 1.5 lbs atrazinePlanting rate: 75,000 plt/ASoil type: Victoria clayPrevious crop: CottonRainfall: 0.13 inchesHarvest date: 18 July 2005
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Table 9. Grain yields and performance factors for 14 sorghum hybrids, Texas CooperativeExtension, Pinkston Farm, San Patricio County, Texas, 2005.
1 Yield per acre is reported in pounds per acre adjusted to 14% moisture. These yields are alsoadjusted using accuracy testing to compensate for field variations.
Table 10. Grain yields and performance factors for 15 sorghum hybrids, Texas CooperativeExtension, Schneider-Porter Farm, San Patricio County, Texas, 2005.
1 Yield per acre is reported in pounds per acre, adjusted to 14% moisture. These yields are alsoadjusted using accuracy testing to compensate for field variations.
Planting date: 19 March 2005Row width: 30 inchesFertilizer: 451 lbs/A 21-13-0 on 12/04
1 Yield per acre is reported in pounds per acre adjusted to 14% moisture. These yields are alsoreplicated to compensate for field variations.
2 Thanks is extended to Dennis Pietsch and his research team, for including TCE sorghum hybridsin the 2005 Gregory Grain Sorghum Performance Test, Allan Hunt Farm, Gregory, TX.
Table 12. Grain yields and performance factors for 10 sorghum hybrids, Texas CooperativeExtension, Raymond and Larry Wiatrek Farm, Wilson County, Texas, 2005.